THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GDIDE. 



167 



" Eecreative Science," Dr. Deakin says, Those who wish to see the 

 wonderful transformation of this interesting tribe of insects, should 

 take some of the largest caterpillars that they can find feeding upon 

 the leaves of the nettle, and place them in a cage made for the 

 purpose, or an ordinary bird-cage, covered with thin muslm or lace, 

 to prevent their escape. Then feed them with the fresh leaves ot 

 the nettle until they have arrived at maturity ; after which they 

 become listless, and soon change into the pupa state, and thus remain 

 dormant for a time. They then burst the hard case which covers 

 them, and the perfect butterfly comes forth decked in all its brilliant 

 colours, and is soon ready for flight, and no one, however much he 

 may have disliked the unattractive caterpillar, will now fail to ad- 



THE NETTLE BUTTERFLY. 



a, caterpillar ; h, chrysalis ; c, perfect insect. 



mire the perfect insect clothed in its beautifully coloured and ex- 

 quisitely arranged minute scale-like feathers. The butterfly soon 

 after it becomes fully developed, deposits a considerable number ot 

 small roundish eggs, and always places them on or ^e^^f e pla^* 

 suited for the young caterpillar which each egg contains, and which m 

 JEe course of a short time, by the aid of the heat of the -;n, breaks 

 its delicate shell. Thus, without much difficulty or trouble, may be 

 observed all the remarkable transformations which the progeny ot 



the butterfly undergoes. , . „ :, , i. ^i. i „^^„r„o 



The reader does not need to be informed what these transforma- 



June 



