26 STORIES OF INSECT LIFE. 



board box. Out-of-doors catch three or four of the yellow 

 butterflies, aud place them in the vivarium thus made, cover- 

 ing the open top with a pane of glass, and putting inside a 

 dish of sweetened water for the butterflies to sij). In a few 

 days you are likely to find upon the upper surface of many of 

 the younger clover leaves one or more small yellowish white 

 eggs, which become brighter colored as they grow older. 



Now remove the butterflies and watch the eggs daily. In 

 three or four days from the time they were laid they become of 

 a reddish orange color ; and in five or six days they hatch into 

 tiny yellowish or brownish caterpillars that will nibble holes in 

 the young clover leaves. In two or three days each little 

 caterpillar will cast its skin and become grass green in color. 



The caterpillars continue to feed and grow for two or three 

 weeks, retaining the green color, although they moult three 

 times after the first moult already mentioned. They feed freely 

 upon fresh leaves of red or white clover, but in confinement 

 are likely to cause more or less trouble from their habit of 

 dropping from the plant upon the least disturbance, — a habit 

 which doubtless is of the greatest value to them under natural 

 conditions, because it affords so easily a means of escajjing from 

 enemies of many kinds. 



" As the time approaches for the change 'to the chrysalis," 

 writes Mr. W. H. Edwards, " the larva seeks the protection of 

 some stem, bit of bark, or fence rail, spins a button of pink 

 silk and a light web over the surface of the object, fastens its 

 hind feet in the one and its fore feet in the other, and hangs 

 with its back curved downward or outward. Gradually the 

 markings of the body become obliterated, lost in uniform green. 

 In this condition the larva rests for some hours, then rousin-g 

 itself spins a loop of several threads from the base of the feet 

 on one side to a like point on the other, instinctively knowing 



