53: 



Fio. 



withdrawn and the process of suspension completed. Soon after this the chrysalis begins a 

 series of wrij^j^linp; and jerkinc; movements with the view of dislo'lj^inj^ the eni[ity larva skiln 

 after the removal of which it remains motionless unless disturbed, and becomes gradualy, 

 harder and more contracted until it assumes the appearance represented by Fiir. 42. 



The chry.salis is about an inch lonp;, and of a beautiful pale green 

 colour spotted with gold, and with a band of golden dots extending more 

 than half way round the body above the middle ; this band is shaded with 

 black. There is also a patch of black around the base of the black pro- 

 tuberance by which it is suspended, and several dots of the same on other 

 portions of the surface. The chrysalis state seldom lasts more than ten or 

 twelve days, and towards the expiration of this pi'riod the liandsome green 

 and gold coloijrs begin to fade, and the chrysalis grows gradually darker 

 until the diminutive wings of the future butterfly show plainly through the 

 semi-transparent enclosure. The escape of the imprisoned insect, now 

 nearly ready for flight, is usually made quite early in the morning. We 

 have several times watched for their deliverance, and have usually found it 

 Colours— G-reen and ^p j.j|.g pi.,gg g^^^^ .,f(gp daybreak. A sudden crackling and slight tearing 

 sound is heard, which arises from a splitting of tlie chrysalis case part way 

 the fore legs, head and antenna) arc first withdrawn, and in a very short 

 Strange looking creatures they arc when they first present 



down the back ; 



time the entire insect is liberated. 



themselves to view, witli bodies so large as to bo out of all proportion to the tiny wings. 

 When fully developed their wings measure about four inches across, but when fresh from the 

 chrysalis they are about the size of those of a large bee. The first necessity now for the 

 welfare of the individual is to find a suitable location where the wings may be held in a good 

 position for expanding, for without such favourable circumstance they would never attain a 

 serviceable size. It is necessary that a position should be secured where the wings can hang 

 down as they are expanding, for which reason the underside of a twig is often selected ; and 

 here, securely suspended by the sharp claws with which the feet are furnished, the wings 

 undergo in a short time the most marvellous growth it is possil)lo to imanino. We have seen 

 the wings double their size by actual measurement within three minutes, and the whole 

 process, from the time of the e-cape of the butterfly to that of the full development of the 

 the wings, seldom occupies more than from fifteen to twenty minutes, and ere the sun is 

 high in the heavens, on the morning of its birth, the soft flabby wings have dried and become 

 rigid, and the butterfly is rca<>y for flight. 



A winj clipped from the insect immediately after its escape, and examined under the 

 microscope, reveals the fact that the thousands and tens of thousands of scales with which the 

 wings are covered, and which afterwards assume such beautiful feather-like forms, are now 



' Colours— Bright Orange, Red, Black and Wliite. 



nearly all linear or thread like, not folded up or wrinkled, but undeveloped. Impressed with 

 this thought, one is fairly astonished at the almost incredible change wrought in so limited a 

 time, for the growth embraces not only the eztcasiou of tiie membraneous surface of the 



