46 



MECHANICAL FUNCTIONS. 



which on more minute examination may be seen to con- 

 sist of the two filaments of the tongue, or proboscis, the 

 legs, and the antennae of the Butterfly. 



It appears therefore, that during the chrysalis state, 

 the future organs \vhich the Butterfly requires are in the 

 progress of perfection, as those of the chicken are in 

 the egg, and that when the Insect has remained under 

 this form, a sufficient length of time for these parts to 



fain a proper degree of consistence and strength, it then 

 ursts open the membrane, and makes its escape, as the 

 young quail does from its egg-shell. 



Just before the Butterfly emerges from its confine- 

 ment, it is easy to see, in some chrysalids, the form of 

 the legs, antennas, and tongue, and even the color of the 

 wings. The extremities of the legs may be seen to 

 move, the wings to enlarge, and finally the whole insect 

 to struggle as if determined no longer to submit to con- 

 finement. After a few such efforts, the membrane of 

 the chrysalis gives way in a longitudinal rent down the 

 back, where a suture may be observed, undoubtedly for 

 this purpose. The rent then extends over the head, and 

 down the breast, and after various efforts and contor- 

 tions, the butterfly finally disengages itself entirely from 

 its covering, leaving it divided into several sections, as 

 Fig. 33. represented by Fig. 33. But the Insect 

 though now disengaged from its prison, 

 has not yet attained its full perfection, for 

 besides being exceedingly weak, so as 

 hardly to be able to crawl, its wings are 

 folded and doubled together in such a 

 manner as to make them appear like pieces 

 of wet paper, as shown by Fig. 34. The 

 spots and markings are also indistinct, as 

 though their wet condition had made the 

 colors run into each other. But they 

 expand with such rapidity, that, accord- 

 ing to Swammardam, "the naked eye 

 , cannot trace their unfolding, for, from 

 reaching scarce half the length of the 

 body, they acquire, O miracle of mira- 

 cles ! in the short space of about half a 

 quarter of an hour, their full extent, and 



