METAMOKPHOSES OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 11 



the trunk of a tree, or the main stem of a stinging- 

 nettle, and spins a small surface of silk, into which it 

 fastens its hind legs in such a position that the head 

 hangs downwards ; it then curves the anterior part of its 

 body, and waits for the change to come over it. In due 

 course, the skin of the larva cracks, and is gradually 

 shoved upwards to the extreme tail, whence eventually 

 the larval skin drops off, and we have in its place the 

 angulated pupa, suspended simply by the tail. This 

 change probably takes place in the month of July, and 

 in about three weeks' time the perfect insect is com- 

 pletely developed within the chrysalis; and, the chrysalis 

 skin cracking, the butterfly makes its escape, expands 

 and dries its wings, and flies to the china-asters and 

 other flowers of our gardens, to display its glorious 

 beauties. 



To turn now to the transformations of the Wall 

 Butterfly (Lasiommata Mey&ra). In this case, the 

 parent butterfly deposits her eggs almost singly on the 

 leaves of several grasses. If the eggs are deposited in 

 the months of August and September, they are hatched 

 in a few days, and the small, pale green larvse which 

 creep out of them proceed to feed on the leaves of the 

 grass. The small green larvae grow very slowly, and 

 their movements are very sluggish. Like all the larvae 

 of the Satyridi, they have a bifid tail, two small peaks 

 projecting from the last segment. By the middle of 

 October they are about half an inch in length, and then 

 cease feeding for the winter ; but in February, if the 

 weather be mild, they wake up from their winter sleep, 

 and again begin feeding on the grass leaves. About the 

 end of April, or beginning of May, they are full fed, 

 and then, spinning a piece of silk to a grass stem or 



