8 The Butterflies and Moths of Teneriffe, 



pupa becomes less lively, and at last splits its skin down 

 the middle of the back, and the insect squeezes first its 

 head and front legs through the aperture. This aper- 

 ture soon enlarges, the pupa skin being very dry and 

 giving little resistance, and the creature emerges, its 

 legs clinging to some substance so that the wings are in 

 a suspended position. These are quite small at first 

 and wet, but they expand very quickly, acquire their 

 full size, and become firm and stiff as the animal flutters 

 and crawls about. The insect then emits a quantity of 

 reddish fluid, and in a short time it is able to fly away. 

 The duration of the life of Lepidoptera varies much, 

 most species living a few days or a few weeks, but some 

 hibernate. The flight of Lepidoptera is a very distinc- 

 tive feature of the different species, the larger, such as 

 the Plexippus, Chrysippus and Pandora, seem to sail 

 through the air, sometimes rising to a great height. 

 The Cardui and Huntera have a much quicker and more 

 jerky flight, and are troublesome to net. A great many 

 of the large moths may be said to rush along, the Oon- 

 volvuli being a very difficult one to capture, and often 

 escaping when it seems quite within the net. Taking 



