276 LIFE STORIES OF AUSTRALIAN INSECTS. 



ceases to move about, for it is in this stage that the 

 final stages of development into the perfect insect 

 take place. This pupa (Plate 35, Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 

 8) may be quite free from any surrounding covering, 

 or it may be enclosed in a cocoon or sheath of woven 

 silk (Plate 39, Fig. 4). The first type is general 

 among the butterflies, whilst the cocoon is almost 

 invariably found in the moths, for, where the larva 

 pupates in the earth the soil takes the place of the 

 cocoon when no distinct cocoon is made. In course 

 of time the perfect insect emerges from the pupal 

 shell. At first it is wet and limp, with crumpled 

 wings and lengthened abdomen, looking a very sorry 

 picture of what we perhaps expected. 



Mother Nature soon completes her work; the ab- 

 domen contracts, the rather miserable-looking crea- 

 ture begins to exercise its legs, and gradually the air 

 is sent through the crinkled, def ormed-looking wings, 

 and they slowly expand ; then it exercises wings and 

 legs and tongue, and eventually, after little resting 

 spaces, it flies off a very beautiful object. 



Both butterflies and moths are divided into 

 numerous families according as they possess certain 

 features in common. We shall consider some of 

 the more familiar families, and then study a few 

 types belonging to such families as are particularly 

 interesting, or are of economic importance. 



