BUTTERFLY. 403 



After undergoing several changes of this kind, the insect prepares 

 to undergo another and still more considerable, which is to intro- 

 duce it into the state of chrysalid, deprived of almost all motion, 

 and incapable of taking food. The change is effected nearly in 

 the same manner as the foregoing ; but in some it is very long 

 in being accomplished. Several species of the butterfly worm 

 construct in a very ingenious manner a coque, or cocoon, or nut 

 of silk, into which they enter before their transformation, and in 

 which they continue for nine months, without food, before their 

 metamorphoses be accomplished. During this long period they are 

 apparently inanimate, and take no nutriment. 



Various substances enter into the composition of the habitations 

 constructed by these animals before their metamorphoses : some 

 are of silk; in some, silk is combined with other matters; several 

 kinds construct no habitation, but are protected by a crustaceous 

 shell, formed by a glutinous substance, exsuding from their bodies: 

 some are suspended vertically, while others hang horizontally by a 

 thread which surrounds the middle of the body. 



The external form of the chrysalids varies according to the spe- 

 cies of butterfly that inhabits them ; in all, however, there are 

 apertures opposite to the thorax, by which respiration is carried on 

 during the whole period of their inactive state. After the ap- 

 pointed time, when the animal has acquired sufficient vigour, the 

 shell is broken, which at once constituted the grave of the cater- 

 pillar and the cradle of the butterfly : the down already grown 

 upon the insect has completely separated it on all sides from the 

 shell, which by the action of the head is broken opposite to that 

 part, and affords free egress to the prisoner it so long confiued. 



The wings of the butterfly, on its first appearance, are close 

 folded ; but by the help of a liquor constantly circulating through 

 them they are soon expanded, and sufficiently hardened by the 

 action of the air, to endure the efforts of flying. It is then that 

 the insect enters upon a more enlarged sphere of action, with in- 

 creased powers : he ranges from flower to flower, darting his 

 rostrum into their nectaries for the delicious stores they contain. 

 Then too in the full possession of every faculty granted to his race, 

 he prepares to multiply and perpetuate it. 



This last and most considerable metamorphosis is attended with 

 2d2 



