233 THE LIFE OF AN INSECT. 



majority of pupas are without any of the gay 

 colouring which distinguishes the previous condi- 

 tion of the insect. It seems as if it had been 

 thought unnecessary to deck in gorgeous raiment 

 the cerements of what we might call " the tomb" 

 of the insect. But there are some beautiful excep- 

 tions to this rule. The pupae of most butterflies, 

 which are suspended in open day, are of a green 

 or yellowish brown colour. Some, however, are 

 painted in fairer colours ; and a still greater number 

 are speckled with glittering spots of golden hue, 

 and shine as though gilded with the purest leaves 

 of that precious metal, and burnished. Hence, as 

 before explained, the Latin and Greek terms of 

 aurelia and chrysalis for the pupae of these insects. 

 The gilding makes them very attractive objects, 

 being applied now in streaks, now in spots, and 

 occasionally, and this in the very common pupa 

 of the butterfly whose caterpillar, or larva, feeds on 

 the nettle, they are entirely covered with this 

 splendid coat, The shade of gilding ranges in the 

 depth of its tone from a very pale yellow to the 

 full lustre of virgin gold. No wonder that those 

 who mistook the object of chemistry, in trying to 

 turn all things into gold, were attracted by these 



