292 NATURAL HISTORY. [CH. XVII. 



ticipated, the suspending- girdle proving too weak to 

 sustain the motions of the chrysalis, gave way, and 

 the miserable insect consequently fell to the ground 

 and perished. 



If we open one of these chrysalis or aurelias, 

 from which a brilliant butterfly will emerge at the 

 proper season, all we shall be able to discover, es- 

 pecially at first, is a mass of pap or soft substance 

 apparently putrefied, in which every thing seems 

 confounded ; but this soft mass, however confused 

 it may appear to the eye, contains the elements of 

 the future insect. Under the action of heat, the 

 superfluous portion of the nutrimental substances 

 gradually transpires through the film which encloses 

 them ; the external film itself becomes by degrees 

 tinctured by a most beautiful vermilion, and the limbs 

 and features, which at first lay concealed in the 

 mass, begin to disengage themselves from the case 

 which contained them, and which now bursts open : 

 then it is that the head unfolds itself to our view, 

 the horns and legs lengthen, the wings expand ; and 

 at last the butterfly, retaining no trace or resem- 

 blance of its former condition, wings its flight 

 through the air. The caterpillar, which is changed 

 into a nymph or chrysalis, and the butterfly that 

 proceeds from it, are two animals essentially differ- 

 ent in form, as well as in manners and habits. The 

 first being altogether terrestrial, crawled slowly and 

 heavily along the ground ; the second is agility it- 

 self, and so far from limiting its motions to the earth, 

 it appears to disdain reposing on its lap. The first, 

 all shaggy, frequently presented a hideous aspect ; 

 the other is arrayed in colours glowing with the 

 most brilliant and beautiful tints. The first fed 

 upon the coarsest and grossest food; the latter 

 ranges from flower to flower, regales itself with 

 honey and dew, and perpetually varies its enjoy- 

 ments. 



END OF THE FIRST SERIES. 



