8.4 TliANSFOR^fATIOiVS OF LVSECTS. 



caterpillar is well known as a honeysuckle eater, and its green 

 colour blends with that of the plant. The caterpillar of the 

 Papilionidi already mentioned have their feet especially suited 

 for climbing their favourite plants, but the white admiral's larva 

 is badly off in this respect. Its feet are not sufficiently furnished 

 with spines and hairs to enable it to climb with perfect safety, 

 for the twigs of the honeysuckle are smooth, hard, and often 

 long ; the spinning glands are, therefore, brought into requi- 

 sition, and a fine silken thread placed here and there on the 

 plant, and collected more decidedly on the leaves, protects the 

 caterpillar from falling violently to the ground. The chrysalis 

 is very angular in its aspect, and is of a dark greenish brown, 

 but it is ornamented on the upper part of the abdomen with 

 brilliant silvery spots and a large one of pale green. 



The great Liincnitis poptili is rather common in the large forests 

 in France, and its caterpillar choses very inaccessible places, such 

 as the very top of poplar trees, so as to feed safely and well. 

 Many a tired butterfly hunter has given up the chase after this 

 splendid insect, whose flight is very strong and high, and were 

 it not for a peculiar habit of this exquisite and delicate-looking 

 creature specimens of it would be very rare in collections. Many 

 are the evils of dirty habits and common tastes, and curious are 

 the longings of the beautiful for the vulgar. The great Poplar 

 Butterfly loves the moisture of horse dung, and leaves the tree 

 tops to dip its trunk in the nauseous mess : then is the time 

 for the butterfly net. 



A large greenish caterpillar which moves very slowly, and 

 looks remarkably stupid and dull, lives during the month of 

 May upon the tops of aspen, willow, and poplar trees, whose 

 constant motion must be very dangerous to it. The feet of the 

 larva are not well furnished with the means of clinging on, but 

 the creature makes use of its spinners and completely covers the 

 leaves upon which it feeds, so that the wind may blow as much 

 as it likes, providing the leaves do not come off. This Nymplialis 

 ilia is a large butterfly with dark wings and yellowish white spots 

 upon them, the whole having beautiful violet tints in certain lights. 

 It flies near long rows of poplars, especially if there is any water 

 near, and loves the shade of the meadows close to great woods. 



