THE REPOSE OF NATURE. 217 



tadpole, and changes it into a four-legged, leaping, air- 

 breathing animal, without even a vestige of tail ! 



I know few pursuits more absorbingly interesting 

 than tracing the gradual change of a larva or cater- 

 pillar while passing through its various states until it 

 attains its perfected form, from which it never after 

 varies. It is an easy task enough, and may be accom- 

 plished by anyone who has, or who chooses to acquire, 

 a steady hand and a tolerable eye. Take any common 

 caterpillars of rather large size silkworms will answer 

 the purpose well, and can easily be obtained put two 

 or three into proof spirits, and let the others change 

 into their pupal form. Note the day that they change, 

 and put a few into spirits within an hour after their 

 casting off their caterpillar skin. Keep the rest, and 

 every two days put a couple into spirits until the moths 

 appear from the survivors, and then treat them after 

 the same fashion. You will then have a really valuable 

 series of objects, which by careful dissection under 

 water or spirits will unveil some great mysteries. It is 

 needful that the very early pupae should be kept in the 

 spirits for some weeks before dissection, as their in- 

 terior is so soft as to be little but a milky fluid, and 

 requires hardening with the spirits before it can safely 

 be touched. 



It is most wonderful to see the gradual develop- 

 ment of the process by which a moth or butterfly is 

 evolved from the caterpillar; the leaf-eating creature 

 with its powerful jaws and huge stomach becoming a 



