THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 117 



its tail. What has become of the larval appurtenances and how did 

 the chrysalis attach itself? Let us see. 



As soon as the larva is full grown it spins a little tuft of silk to 

 the underside of whatever object it may be resting upon, and after 

 entangling the hooks of its hind legs in this silk, it lets go the hold of 

 its other legs and hangs down with the head and anterior joints of the 

 body curved as at Figure 66, a. In this position it hangs for about 

 twenty-four hours, during which the fluids of the body naturally gravi- 

 tate towards the up-turned joints, until the latter become so swollen 

 that at last,by a little effort on the part of thelarva,the skin bursts along 

 the back behind the head. Through the rent thus made the anterior 

 portion of the pupa is protruded and by constant stretching and con- 

 tracting the larval skin is slipped and crowded backwards until there 

 is but a small shriveled mass gathered around the tail (Fig. 56, 5). 

 Now comes the critical period — the culminating point. 



The soft and supple chrysalis, yet showing the elongate larval form 

 with distinct traces of its prolegs, hangs heavily from the shrunken 

 skin. From this skin it is to be extricated and firmly attached to 

 the silk outside. It has neither legs nor arms, and we should suppose 

 that it would inevitably fall while endeavoring to accomplish this 

 object. But the task is performed with the utmost surety, though 

 appearing so perilous to us. The supple and contractile joints of the 

 abdomen are made to subserve the purpose of legs, and by suddenly 

 grasping the shrunken larval skin between the folds of two of these 

 joints as with a pair of pincers, the chrysalis disengages the tip of 

 its body and hangs for a moment suspended as at Figure 66, c. 

 Then with a few earnest, vigorous, jerking movements it suc- 

 ceeds in sticking the horny point of its tail into the silk, and 

 firmly fastening it by means of a rasp of minute claws with which that 

 point is furnished. Sometimes severe effort is needed before the point is 

 properly fastened, and the chrysalis frequently has to climb by stretch- 

 ing the two joints above those by which it is suspended, and clinging 

 hold of the shriveled skin further up. The moment the point is 

 fastened the chrysalis commences, by a series of violent jerkings, and 

 whirlings to dislodge the larval skin, after which it rests from its efforts 

 and gradually contracts and hardens until it presents the appearance 

 of Figure 67. The really active work lasts but a few 

 sminutes, and the insect rarely fails to go through with 

 it successfully. The chrysalis is a beautiful object and 

 as it hangs pendant from some old fence board or from 

 the underside of an Asclepias leaf, it reminds one of 

 some large ear-drop; but though the jeweller could 

 successfully imitate the form, he might well despair of 

 ever reproducing the clear pale green, and the ivory 

 black and golden marks which so characterize it. 

 This chrysalis state lasts but a short time, as is the case with all 

 those which are known to suspend themselves [nakedly by the tail. 



