THE llEVOSE OF NATURE. 218 



importance. The digesti\'e organs are reduced to a 

 tithe of their former volume, the masses of loose fat 

 gradually shrink, while new members begin to make 

 their appeai'ance, and increase imperceptibly from day 

 to day, gaining form and substance by the slow but 

 Di\dne and irresistible power which is equally exerted 

 in creating an universe or moulding a moth's plumage. 

 Mine ancient and constant enemy, lack of space, 

 here warns me that we shall not be able to examine the 

 whole structure of the future moth, and we will there- 

 fore restrict ourselves to the most obvious points of 

 diflference between the caterpillar and the perfect insect, 

 namely, the wings. Under the skin of the back (and 

 these can be seen even in the caterpillar) are two little 

 projections, white, soft, and in shape not unlike the 

 two halves of a pea, but rather flatter. On raising 

 them with a needle it is found that each separates into 

 two portions; and, on further examination, we find 

 they are the latent wings in their unformed condition. 

 It seems incredible that within this little space 

 should be packed the beautiful wings which, when 

 spread, will contain several square inches of firm and 

 strong membrane, penetrated by air-cells, strengthened 



; by nervures, and clothed with myriads upon myriads of 

 delicately carved scales. Yet it is the feet ; and, when 

 the creature emerges from its case, we shall see how the 



_^ wings attain their full size. 



When the moth leaves the chrysalis state, it crawls 



[up some perpendicular object, generally the native tree 



