FORM OF PUP^. 293 



moisture from entering and distending the skin, it 

 shrivels up; but this occurs seldom. If the old skin, 

 now become detached and forming a tubular enve- 

 lope, be cut open, the pupa will be brought into view, 

 exhibiting the parts of the future fly neatly folded 

 down upon the body, as may be seen in the figure. 



Thrs is one of the larvre which Swammerdam ob- 

 served to cast, along with its external skin, the lining 

 of the intestines, and breathing-tubes likewise, which, 

 he remarks, ' is very singular, and amazingly shows 

 the miracles of God, teaching at the same trnie how 

 the former body is entirely cast off and renewed.'* 

 The pupa, when exposed in the preceding manner, is 

 of a bright green colour, interspersed with white 

 transparent particles, and the spiracles of the wind- 

 pipe glittering like pearls. 



When the pupa of the laip^it moth {Gastropacha 

 quercifolia) is disengaged from the cocoon, it has 

 much the appearance of an Egyptian mummy, or an 

 infant in the old-fashioned swaddling bands. The 

 feet are crossed over the breast, and folded closely 

 down nearly in the same manner as in the instance 

 of the chameleon fly just mentioned; but the wings 

 are compressed into a very small compass. This 

 appears the more remarkable as the wings of the 

 moth are large and conspicuous, and so like the 

 withered leaf of an oak, both in form and colour, that 

 the insect would readily impose uptfti "a careless 

 observer. It is, we believe, the only British example 

 of what have been popularly termed leaf insects, — 

 which have given origin to the fanciful and untenable 

 theory of intentional deception on the part of Provi- 

 dence. It was by opening one of these pupce that 

 Reaumur first discovered the various sheaths appro- 

 priated to the feet, the antennae, and the wings; the 

 sheath of the sucker (Jiaustellum) being wanting, as it 



* Bibl. Nat. vol. ii, p. 51. 

 VOL. VI. ♦ 25* 



