TRANSMUTABLE. 177 



stalk, to burst forth and grow; and the same 

 warmth awakens the sleeper. During the months 

 of April and May it feeds. In June it goes into 

 a chrysalis, whence, early in July, it emerges a 

 large and beautiful butterfly ! 



"Child of the sun, pursue thy rapturous flight, 

 Mingling with her thou lov'st in fields of light; 

 And where the flowers of Paradise unfold, 

 Quaff* fragrant nectar from their cups of gold." 



And other eggs are laid, and then the beautiful 

 butterfly is seen no more on earth. 



Now the whole of this year of the insect's 

 life is a circle of pre-ordained events, each of 

 which is essential to the existence and perpetu- 

 ation in time of the creature. Cut the links of 

 the chain, or leave one of them out, and then 

 the whole series of events is inevitably destroyed. 



Next look for a moment at the noble emperor 

 of all the butterflies, glittering in his rich purple 

 robe as he sails along the tops of the forest oak. 

 What is his history? As I have riot in this in- 

 stance seen the changes detailed, I will quote Dr. 

 Maclean's own words : 



"July 16th., 1834. I saw Apatura Iris de- 

 posit two eggs on two upper leaves of the sallow. 

 One, which I brought home with me, produced 

 a small green larva on the 25th. The other, 

 which was left in its natural situation, did not 

 hatch till the 28th. The larvae in the first in- 

 stance are without horns, having heads similar to 

 ordinary caterpillars, and of a dark brown colour. 



