wickwire] some disguises OF MOURNING-CLOAK 253 



Another four days and the second molt took place. The head 

 and body were both black this time, and there were longitudinal 

 tan stripes running the length of the caterpillars. The spines were 

 black, and those nearest the head were the longer. The first three 

 pairs of legs, (the true feet) were black, while the others (prop feet) 

 were tan colored. 



Three days and then another skin was cast. The new head was 

 large, round and black, just back of it was a crest of small black 

 spines. The body was black with a row of red spots down the back 

 each side of which were the large black spines ; the smaller spines 

 on the sides of the caterpillars were grayish. The true feet and the 

 last pair of prop feet were black, the other prop feet being reddish 

 tan. 



Four days more and the last molt took place. There was no 

 change in the colors this time, but the crawlers grew to be one and a 

 half inches in length. They still lived together and when someone 

 beat on a tin pan near them they would throw themselves from 

 side to side in a most comical manner, for all the world like a com- 

 pany of Shakers. 



It was twelve days after this last molt that we found the first 

 chrysalis, and a queer little body it was ! Suspended by the tail it 

 hung from a twig, plump in shape and purple brown in color with 

 little gilt knobs for omam.ents, surely a fit covering for any fairy to 

 burst from. 



After a sleep of thirteen days, a quivering at the end of a chrysalis 

 warned us of the coming emergence. When at last the crumpled 

 wet winged insect struggled through the tiny opening, it seemed 

 impossible that this creature could ever become the dusky nymph 

 of the May woods ; but after half an hour of fanning the queer little 

 dwarfed appendages which appeared where the wings should be, 

 shook out, perfect in form and exquisite in coloring. Then with a 

 whiff of the summer breeze our captive was off; sailing down the 

 golden sunbeams and dancing with the woodland shadows. 



