THE CATERPILLAR. 59 



sufficiently, and the parts of the future butterfly 

 have formed themselves beneath its skin, it is then 

 time for it to make its first great and principal 

 change into an aurelia, or a chrysalis, as some 

 have chosen to call it ; during which, as was ob- 

 served, it seems to remain for several days, or 

 even months, without life or motion. 



Preparatory to this important change, the cater- 

 pillar most usually quits the plant or the tree on 

 which it fed, or at least attaches itself to the stalk 

 or the stem, more gladly than the leaves. It for- 

 sakes its food, and prepares by fasting to undergo 

 its transmutation. In this period, all the food it 

 has taken is thoroughly digested, and it often 

 voids even the internal membrane which lined its 

 intestines. Some of this tribe, at this period also, 

 are seen entirely to change colour ; and the viva- 

 city of the tints in all seems faded. Those of 

 them which are capable of spinning themselves a 

 web, set about this operation ; those which have 

 already spun, await the change in the best man- 

 ner they are able. The web or cone with which 

 some cover themselves, hides the aurelia contain- 

 ed within from the view ; but in others, where it 

 is more transparent, the caterpillar, when it has 

 done spinning, strikes into it the claws of the two 

 feet under the tail, and afterwards forces in the 

 tail itself, by contracting those claws, and violent- 

 ly striking the feet one against the other. If, 

 however, they be taken from their web at this 

 time, they appear in a state of great languor, and, 

 incapable of walking, remain on that spot where 

 they are placed. In this condition they remain 



