126 THE UNIVERSE. 



CHAPTER II. 



METAMORPHOSES. 



Born in one shape, the insect dies in another, and the 

 metamorphoses which it undergoes are the most important 

 portion of its life, and the most extraordinary phenomenon 

 in physiology. Organism, functions, all things change : the 

 ugly caterpillar is transformed into a butterfly gleaming 

 with azure and gold, and if this butterfly were restricted to 

 the fresh leaves of which it devoured such quantities in its 

 youth it would die of inanition ; it requires a more delicate 

 nourishment now that it has become adorned with its brill- 

 iant wings, and only lives on the nectar of flowers. 



The Libellula, or dragon-fly, when it appears in its last 

 dress, assumes different habits. It has passed all its life 

 beneath the water in the condition of an ignoble larva, 

 soiled with mud and filth ; but now that the time has come, 

 it aspires to soar into the air. Having mounted on some 

 plant or other, it attaches its aquatic garment to it, and un- 

 folds the brilliant iridescent wings of gauze which bear it 

 away. The metamorphosis is so radical and its new wants 

 so imperious that if we attempt to retain the insect a single 

 minute longer in its ancient element it will perish on the 

 spot. It has lived till now in shade and in stagnant water ; 

 henceforth it can only breathe the pure air and live in the 

 glowing light. 1 



1 This insect is so little like itself at different stages that any one who did not 

 know its metamorphoses would look upon it as an animal belonging to totally dif- 



