118 THE PEACOCK BUTTERFLY. 



chrysalid form. In the performance of this change, 

 they suspend themselves vertically, with the head 

 downwards ; and the pupa, thus pendent, continues 

 for about twenty days, at the end of which time the 

 insect becomes perfected, bursts from its shell, expands 

 its wings, and flies away. 



The Peacock Butterfly is to be found all over 

 Europe, especially in the more temperate parts of it. 

 It is not uncommon in the south of England, but it is 

 extremely rare in the north. During the winter it 

 conceals itself, and does not die until it has deposited 

 its eggs in the ensuing spring. 



This Papilio, also the P. urticcs, atalanta, poly- 

 chloros, and several allied species, soon after emerging 

 from the chrysalis form, when they take their first 

 flight, discharge a few drops of a reddish coloured 

 fluid, which is sometimes of the intensity of blood. 

 In situations where these insects are numerous, it has 

 had the appearance of a shower of blood, and, by 

 early writers, was considered the precursor of some 

 extraordinary event. Ovid commemorated an occur- 

 rence of this kind among the prodigies which took 

 place after the death of the great dictator, in the 

 following passage : 



Saepe faces visse mediis ardere sub astris : 

 Saepe inter nimbos guttae cecidere cruentae. 



Which has been thus translated, 



With threat'ning s : gns the lowering skies were fill'd, 

 And sanguine drops from murky clouds distill'd. 



The explanations of the appearance of blood on the 



