1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Butterfly and Moth

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1911 Encyclopædia Britannica Butterfly and Moth

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BUTTERFLY and MOTH (the former from "butter" and "fly," an old term of uncertain origin, possibly from the nature of the excrement, or the yellow colour of some particular species; the latter akin to O. Eng. mod, an earth-worm), the common English names applied respectively to the two groups of insects forming the scientific order Lepidoptera (q.v.).