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From: jcf@world.std.com (Joseph C Fineman)
Subject: Re: Etymology of Butterfly
Message-ID: <Cz0vou.Gxx@world.std.com>
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
References: <1994Nov9.002829.29723@ac.dal.ca>
Date: Wed, 9 Nov 1994 22:55:41 GMT
Lines: 15

nextug@ac.dal.ca (Christopher Majka) writes:

>> The etymological dictionary I referred to above is not sure
>> about the origin of _motyle"k_.  One possibility is that it is derived
>> from the obsolete word _motyla_ or _motylo_ `dung', and its original
>> meaning was `dung moth' (whatever that is) or possibly `dung beetle'.

>Dubious. There is no such thing as a 'dung moth' and I can't imagine there
>being an association between dung bettles (scarabaeoids) and butterflies.

Many butterflies (including, I believe, the monarch) feed on dung.
-- 
        Joe Fineman             jcf@world.std.com
        239 Clinton Road        (617) 731-9190
        Brookline, MA 02146
