132 



NATURAL HISTORY. [cH. Vllt^ 



themselves in the earth to the depth of a foot and 

 a half or two feet. It constructs itself a very even 

 sort of cocoon, smooth within, and lines it with its 

 excrements, and with some silken thread. Their 

 bodies become shorter and inflated. They quit 

 their skin and change into a chrysalis, through the 

 covering of which all the parts of the perfect in- 

 sect are easily distinguished. In the month of Feb- 

 ruary the cockchafer tears its envelope, and issues 

 forth under its final form. But the insect is at first 

 yellowish, and rather soft, and still remains for some 

 time under ground, to get rid of its superfluous 

 humidity. It approaches by little and little to the 

 surface of the earth, from which it does not issue 

 forth entirely until it is attracted by a mild heat. 



The contact with the air completely fortifies it, and 

 gives its external parts their proper colour. 



