44 



STBUCTUBE OF THE LEPIDOPTEBA 



CHAPTER ly 



THE PUPA OR CHRYSALIS 



As soon as the last moult of the caterpillar is over, the chrysalis 

 that had already been developing under the cover of the old skin 

 is exposed to full view ; and although the perfect insect is not to 



be liberated for some time to 

 come, yet some of its parts are 

 apparently fully formed. 



The newly exposed skin of 

 the chrysalis is very soft and 

 moist, but as it hardens it forms 

 a membranous or horny cover- 

 ing tliat protects and holds 

 firndy in place the trunk and 

 the various limbs and appen- 

 dages that are distinctly' to be 

 traced on the under surface. 



If, however, you examine a 

 chrysalis directly after the moult 

 is over, you will often find that 

 the wings, antennae, proboscis, 

 and legs of the future butterHy 

 can be easily separated from 

 the trunk of the body on which 

 they lie by means of a blunt needle, and can be spread out so as to 

 be quite free from that surface. 



In form the chrysalides of butterflies and moths are as variable 

 as the caterijillars. Many of the former are sharply angular like 

 that of the ' Small Tortoiseshell ' already mentioned ; but some of 

 the butterflies — the Skippers (page 197) — have smooth and tapering 

 chrysalides, and so have most of tlie moths. 



Fig. 30. — The 

 Pupa of the 

 Privet Hawk 

 (Ligustri). 



Fig. 31. — The 

 Chrysalis of 

 THE Large 

 White But-' 

 TERFLY (Bi-as- 

 sicce). 



