232 THE LIFE OF AN INSECT. 



brane. In a little while the bonds which keep it 

 in the tomb will be broken, and the slumberer shall 

 rise a glorious creature to the enjoyment of all the 

 happiness of a new condition of existence. 



Perhaps few things would cause a person igno- 

 rant of insect life more amazement than if we 

 were to hold before his eyes some of the varieties 

 of pupae in one hand, and the perfect insect in the 

 other, and were then seriously to assure him 

 that both were the same 

 creatures in reality. " Can 

 it be possible?" he might 

 exclaim. " This dry, brown 

 little mass, with these sin- 

 gular knobs, and this elegant 

 insect with its gaudy wings 

 and delicate figure these the 

 same being ! " Nor when we 

 look at the various figures of 

 pupae, should we be much 

 surprised at his exclamation. 

 In one of the cases at the British Museum is a 

 very large pupa which we have had engraved, 

 and which is here presented to the reader. In 

 this curious creature the folding up of the limbs 



