160 Bugs, Butterflies, and Beetles 



and one-half in length. This is the time they hunt 

 a sheltered spot on a tree trunk, shed or fence, there 

 to get ready to effect their wonderful transforma- 

 tion. They are dainty, fastidious creatures and 

 they want a footstool for their feet, so they make 

 themselves one of silk, but instead of standing upon 

 this silken stool, they hook their hind feet into it, 

 fasten them to the silk so that they can, if they wish, 

 hang head downward with no danger of falling. 

 But they evidently do not like to hang head down- 

 ward, and in order to avoid that undignified posi- 

 tion they spin a waistband or lifebelt, which keeps 

 them upright and prevents the blood from running 

 to their head as you will notice in the picture of the 

 black swallow-tail. 



These butterflies not having a cocoon, like the 

 moth, to conceal their chrysalides, take some pride 

 in their mummy cases and make them of decorative 

 and artistic form to please the eyes of the boys or 

 for some purpose of their own. 



The butterfly is black and is common; every 

 boy knows it, or if he does not, every boy has seen 

 it. It is graceful in form and beautiful in color. 

 The wings have two rows of yellow dots and a lot 

 of yellow half -moons along the border of the wings, 



