14 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



leaving itself a mere limbless, and apparently help- 

 less mass its only prehensile organs being a few 

 minute, almost imperceptible hooks on the end of the 

 tail ; and the -require^, position of attachment and 

 security is accomplished by a series of movements so 

 dexterous and sleight-of-hand like, as to cause infinite 

 astonishment to the looker-on, and, as Reaumur justly 

 observes, " It is impossible not to wonder, that an 

 insect, which executes them but once in its life, should 

 execute them so well. We must necessarily conclude 

 that it has been instructed by a GREAT MASTER; for He 

 who has rendered it necessary for the insect to undergo 

 this change, has likewise given it all the requisite means 

 for accomplishing it in safety." 



If we examine a chrysalis we are able to make out, 

 through the thin envelope, all the external organs of 

 the body stowed away in the most orderly and compact 

 manner. The antennae are very conspicuous, folded 

 down alongside of the legs ; and precisely in the centre 

 will be seen the tongue, unrolled and forming a straight 

 line between the legs. The unexpanded wings are 

 visible on each side very small, but with all their 

 veinings distinctly seen ; and the breathing holes, 

 called spiracles, are placed in a row on each side of the 

 body. 



The duration of the chrysalis stage, like that of the 

 egg, is extremely variable, and dependent on difference 

 of temperature. As an instance of this, one of our 

 common butterflies has been known to pass only seven 



