The Chrysalis 



up " process and describe how an attachment is secured 

 at the anal extremity, and how our little friend " loops 

 the loop." Some species, such as the Tortoiseshell, get 

 over this part of their difficulty by omitting the loop 

 altogether, and therefore hang head downward, sus- 

 pended only by the hooks and silk at the tail. Con- 

 cealment during this stage is the creature's only hope 

 and chance of survival ; other defence they have none. 

 Their colour may occasionally protect them by virtue 

 of making them harmonize beautifully with their sur- 

 roundings. The ichneumons seldom molest them 

 during the chrysalis stage ; but birds and small animals 

 have sharp eyes when foraging for food, so it is usually 

 far more difficult to discover these chrysalids than to 

 find the feeding caterpillars. 



The time passed as a chrysalis is very variable ; ten 

 days to a fortnight in summer is sufficient for many 

 species ; others pass over the whole winter, like the 

 spring brood of our common white butterflies, so that 

 these can be sought for during the winter months under 

 the overhanging portion of palings, walls, outhouses, 

 and in similar situations. The cold does not seem to 

 injure them ; it may, and generally does, retard their 

 emergence, and possibly has some effect on the colours 

 of the wings, but it cannot change their ultimate pattern. 

 Experiments have been tried with various chrysalids, 

 part of a brood being hatched out after being submitted 

 to a very low temperature, and another part of the 

 same brood after being treated with a high temperature. 

 Speaking generally, the coloration of those subjected 

 7 



