The Life-History of a Butterfly 



to the cold treatment was brightened and intensified, 

 and Nature does the same thing in her own way. The 

 early summer butterflies, which pass through the winter 

 as chrysalids, are almost invariably larger and brighter 

 than the midsummer or autumn brood of the same 

 species. 



But suppose our caterpillar to have successfully run 

 the gauntlet ichneumon, bird, beast, and beetle and 

 to have become a healthy pupa, and that the time has 

 arrived when he must make the last and greatest trans- 

 formation in his short and interesting career. Several 

 days prior to his exit as a butterfly taking place, a 

 noticeable change occurs in the apparent colour of the 

 chrysalis. 



As a matter of fact it is not the chrysalis shell which 

 is changing colour, but the developing insect, the colours 

 of which are beginning to show through it, at first 

 rather faintly ; but latterly the pattern of the wings can 

 be distinctly seen, and the whole body surface gets 

 darker. When this stage is reached, the advent of our 

 butterfly is not long delayed. The hour chosen is 

 usually early in the morning, so that by the time the 

 sun is high and the fresh perfumed flowers are nodding 

 in the breeze, our little butterfly has expanded and dried 

 his wings, and is now quite prepared for the beautiful 

 and consummating act in the wonderful drama of his 

 existence. 



While he is drying his wings and preparing for a life 

 amongst sunshine and flowers, we might spend a few 

 minutes with him ere he leaves us, and the more so, as 



