584 Home Nature-Study Course. 



cabbage patch and they wiU hve contented on the leaves brought into 

 the schoolroom. They should be placed in a box with a cover of wire or 

 cloth netting, or what is better in a glass breeding cage, where the pupils 

 may be able to observe them constantly. 



The caterpillar is green and downy and so much the color of the 

 cabbage leaf that it often escapes observation. It is velvety looking and 

 in that way resembles the cabbage leaf. It grows as do all caterpillars 

 by shedding the skeleton skin as often as it becomes too tight. Let the 

 children note something of its structure when studying this insect. Note 

 that there are six true legs, two on each of the three segments just 

 behind the head. Notice that these are little, sharp-hooked feet and look 

 very different from the fleshy legs on the rear of the segments of the 

 body which are merely fleshy prolongations of the segments to help hold 

 the caterpillar on the leaf. Note that the breathing pores can well be 

 seen along each side, one on a segment. These holes open into the respira- 

 tory tubes and enable the insect to breathe. Be sure and impress upon 

 the pupils that the insects do not breathe through their mouths as we do. 

 Note especially that the insects use their mouths only for eating and that 

 they have no one organ for smelling comparable to a nose. For the way 

 the insects breathe see " Manual for the Study of Insects," p. 'j'^. 



LESSON CLIV. 



THE CHRYSALIS. 



Purpose. — To interest the pupils in the way the caterpillar suspends 

 itself and changes to a chrysalis. 



The caterpillars that have become fully grown in the breeding cage 

 will wander oft" to the sides of the box and there remain quiet for some 

 time. A caterpillar acting thus should be watched very closely. First 

 it will spin a button of silk in which the hooks on the rear end of the 

 body may cling; it then will spin a loop just a little forward of the 

 middle of the body, which serves to hold the body next to the object on 

 which the transformation is taking place. Then the skeleton skin is 

 shed and pushed back and off. The halter or loop holds the chrysalis 

 in place while it pulls itself out of the old skin and fastens the hooks 

 at the tip end into the button of silk. Note that the chrysalis is angular 

 and is very likely to be similar in color to the object against which 

 it is hung. This protects it from the keen eyes of birds. Let the pupils 

 note the wing pads, and if possible have them see the butterfly emerge 

 from 'its chrysalis. Call attention to the fact that there is no cocoon 

 made to protect the pupa or chrysalis of butterflies. This is one important 

 difference that distinguishes the pupse of butterflies from those of moths. 



