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NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [15:7— Oct., 1919 



body and the antennae like great feathers are outlined just in front 

 of the wing cases. There is nothing more wonderful in all nature 



than the changes which are worked with- 

 in one of these little, brown, pupa cases, 

 for within it processes go on, which 

 change the creature from a crawler 

 among the leaves to a 

 winged inhabititant of the 



The cecropia cocoon cut open, showing the pupa within it. 



Photo by M. V. Slingerland. 



air. When we see how helpless this pupa is, we can understand 

 better how much the strong silken cocoon is needed for protection 

 from enemies as well as from inclement weather. 



The moth. — In the spring, usually in May, after the leaves are 

 well oat on the trees, the pupa skin is shed in its turn, and out 

 of it comes the wet and wrinkled moth, its wings all crumpled, 

 its furry, soft body very untidy; but it is only because of this 

 soft and cnunpled state that it is able to push its way out 

 through the narrow door into the outer world. It has on 

 each side of its body just back of the head two little, homy 

 hooks that help it to work its way out. It is certainly a sorry 

 object as it issues, looking as if it had been dipped in water and 

 some one had squeezed it in his hand. But the wet wings soon 

 spread, the bright antennae stretch oat, the furry body becomes 

 dry and flaffy, and the large moth appears in all its perfection. 

 But though it is so large, It does not need to eat; the cater])illar 

 did all the eating that was necessary for the whole life of the insect ; 

 the mouth of the moth is not sufficiently perfected to take food. 



