IlIK l.r.NCiTll Ol- I.Il F. OF 15UTTERFLIES. !)()9 



Tlio clirvtiiilids are longer ami !«k'iiilercr than in C'vaniris, being nearly 

 tour times longer than broad, theaiulonien but slightly more elevated than 

 the thorax, and tiie whole body covered with long distant hairs by which 

 thev mav readily be distingiiishcd : in color they resemble the cater])illars, 

 or are darker and spotted with lilack. 



EXCURSUS XXXII. LENGTH OF LIFE IN BUTTERFLIES. 



\h\tor loiiitittir: Biittorrty limtUur: 



••Hoyal in luirpk' iuul jrolil ami rod, "Sunsliinc ami blussoins are on my way; 



Krof. ami unknowing' sorrow, Wlial is tlio talk of sorrow? 



Blitlii-lv ami litlirlv to ami fro, Blitln- on tl]i> wing with (lowers for rest, 



With ll'owors for t'hv I'hoosin-r still a-blow. Hither ami tliitlier as likes nie best: 



Flannt throu^'h the iillo noon : Oh the joy of the while ! 



Hut the (lav is short ami the sinnmer sped, Minutes are many to bask anil to play, 



And alas for the end of joy so soon ; The earth is glad and the blue skies smile ; 



The (lavs are short and the rose is dead. Jlimites are many and joy is to-day; 



And ihou wilt be dyin;^ to-morrow." Hying is f:ir till to-morrow." 



Augusta Webster.— TAe BnUerjhj. 



AuRELlANS are frequently asked how long butterflies live. By this is 

 generally meant what is the length of life of the mature insect. As is 

 generally known, each species passes through one cycle of its existence 

 once a year, though it very frequently happens that two, three, or even 

 more generations succeed imc another during a single season, and it has 

 been siqiposed (though ne\or proven) to be the case with sonic that two 

 or more years are required for this cycle ; as is known to be true of some 

 other insects. But with regard to the length of life of the butterfly itself, 

 there is not a little variety ; when the disappearance of a given butterfly 

 is in consequence of the approaching cold season it may well be and often 

 is the case that the butterfly has merely gone into winter quarters to 

 appear again on the wing the ensuing spring. In cases like these, the 

 duration of life of a butterfly may be as long as eight or nine months or 

 even more, for there are hibernating butterflies which emerge from the 

 chrysalis by the beginning of August or even in July, but which do not 

 go into winter quarters until September, October or even November, then 

 appear again the next season as soon as advancing spring has begun to 

 make itself felt, and continue upon the wing sometimes through June, 

 sometimes even into July. It is impossible to say certainly whether or 

 not the individuals flying latest in the spring number among them any 

 which were earliest to escape from the chrysalis in the preceding season. 

 But setting aside the chances of capture by their enemies, there is no 

 reason to believe it impossible, and that they may spend and probably in 

 many instances do spend fully ten months of the year in the winged con- 

 dition. 



This conclusion may be reached also in another way. A\'e may add 

 together the ordinary life period of the egg, the time it takes the caterpil- 



