Marvels of Insect Life. 



helpful analogy. Further, there is not an atom of suggestion in an}^ external part of 

 the caterpillar of the relatively enormous wings, so beautifully clothed with scales 

 that are so minute they look like dust. Who could imagine either that the six 

 poor little bow-legs on the fore-part of the caterpillar would develop into the long 

 and graceful appendages of the butterfly, or that the insignificant little ocelli 

 would be supplemented by the magnificent compound eyes of which the butterfly's 

 head appears to be mainly composed. No wonder if contemplation of this complete 

 metamor])hosis should give rise to the theory of metempsychosis— the belief that 



in the apparently lifeless chrysalis 

 stage the soul of some other 

 creature entered into the Insect 

 and gave it the additional glories 

 of the final stage. 



The eggs of butterflies are very 

 variable in shape and ornamenta- 

 tion. Some are ninepin-shaped,some 

 like codlin-apples reversed, others 

 hassock-shaped. The sculpturing 

 usually takes the form of ribs and 

 fluting. The colour varies, not only 

 according to species, but with the 

 age of the egg. Some species deposit 

 their eggs singly, others in batches. 

 The caterpillar consists of 

 thirteen segments besides the head, 

 but the full number cannot be 

 made out often without dissection, 

 owing to the hinder two or three 

 being united. The first three seg- 

 ments behind the head bear each 

 a pair of tapering, curved and 

 jointed legs, and these segments 

 constitute the fore-body ; ^ the re- 

 maining ten form the hind-body. - 



PJwto by] 



Butterfly Caterpillars. 



These are caterpiUars cf the swallow-tail butterfly, the fine Insect that — so 

 far as Britain is concerned — is found only in certain parts of the fen districts. 

 The colour scheme is an alternation of black and orange rings. 



Segments three to six of the hind- 

 body bear thick, unjointed, and 

 fleshy feet, which are of a temporary 

 character, and are not represented in the later stages. At the extremity of the body 

 there is a pair of similar nature distinguished by the name of claspers. These feet 

 and claspers are used for locomotion and for clinging to the food-plant, the true legs 

 as a rule being used only for steadying the edge of the leaf whilst the caterpillar 

 eats it. The true legs end in a minute claw ; the free ends of the feet are fringed 

 with hooks, which enable it to take hold so readily and so tenaciously. 



The head at once appears as distinct from the body owing to its horny character. 

 On each side of the mouth may be seen six or fewer tiny clear spots, which are 



1 Thorax. " Abdomen. 



