36 THE CHRYSALIS. 



these uncertain and delicate supports ; when all 

 is ready, the very extremity of the chrysalis, a 

 long and horny piece, armed at tip by a multi- 

 tude of recurved spines, is carefully withdrawn, 

 and the now partially hardened chrysalis, sup- 

 ported by these ligaments, and in part, probably, 

 by the larval skin itself, gripped between the 

 edges of some of the hinder segments of the body, 

 hangs entirely without the larval skin which 

 formerly inclosed it ; by slight twisting of the 

 body, aided by the elastic nature of the ligaments, 

 the cremaster, or terminal piece of the chrysalis, 

 finds its way to the button of silk, into which the 

 hooks at its tip are soon entangled ; by wri things 

 and whirlings of the body, a greater and greater 

 number become more and more deeply embedded, 

 while at the same time the rapid drying of the 

 now useless ligaments causes their rupture from 

 the larval skin, which, shrivelled and loosened, 

 drops to the ground, leaving the chrysalis in firm 

 possession of the button of silk. 



What a different object now greets our eyes ! 

 Instead of the worm with soft and fleshy body, 

 greedy of food, moving where it will, we find a 

 toughened mummy, incapable of more motion 

 than a feeble wriggle, and otherwise apparently 

 lifeless ; what few prominences it can boast are 

 seldom greatly elevated above the surface, and in 

 none of our native species ever assume the form 



