288 NATURAL HISTORY. [cH. XVII. 



ft 



But the most singular part of the operation re- 

 mains to be described. The caterpillar was sus- 

 pended to the silken cone by legs and hooks attached 

 to its own skin ; that skin, however, with its append- 



ant legs and hooks, the chrysalis must cast off; 

 but, although destitute of limbs or hooks, it yet 

 contrives to fix itself on the same cone to which 

 the caterpillar was attached. When the skin has 

 been well thrust down, the insect seizes some part 

 of it in one of the indentations between two of the 

 rings of its body: this secures a resting-place, 

 which enables it to withdraw its tail altogether from 

 the old skin. 



Wholly freed from its former covering, the chry- 

 salis is now attached to a frail and withered slough, 

 and suspended in mid-air in a situation of great peril. 

 It becomes now indispensable that it should fix itself 

 to the silken cone. But to a creature hanging with 

 its head downwards, and destitute of limbs, this 

 would seem a hopeless undertaking. Destitute and 

 helpless, however, as its condition appears, nature 

 has not left it without adequate resources. It elon- 

 gates that part of the body which is above the rings, 

 by which it holds on, and seizes by the interval be- 

 tween two rings still higher than those, another 

 part of its caterpillar skin. Having in this maimer 

 advanced by three or four steps to the required 

 height, it feels about with its tail for the silken cone. 

 Having at last found this cone, it fixes itself to it 



