18 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



of their painted devices growing under the eye and de- 

 veloping gradually into their true proportions. 



Generally within an hour the development is com- 

 plete, and the wings, having gained their full expanse 

 and consistency by drying in the sun, are ready for 

 flight, and the glad creature wings his way to the fields 

 of air, and enters on that life- of sunshine and hilarity 

 which is associated with the very name of "Butterfly" 



But not every chrysalis arrives at this happy consum- 

 mation of its existence. Supposing that you have 

 reared and watched a caterpillar to apparently healthy 

 maturity, that it has duly become a chrysalis, and you 

 are awaiting its appearance in butterfly splendour 

 peeping into your box some morning to see if the bright 

 expected one is " out," be not surprised if in its stead 

 you find the box tenanted by a swarm of little black 

 flies an impish-looking crew. Whence came all 

 these ? Why they and the empty chrysalis shell are 

 all that remains of your cherished prize ; so look no 

 more for the fair sunny butterfly, devoured ere born by 

 that ill-favoured troop of darklings who have just 

 now issued from the lifeless shell. 



The truth is, that long since, perhaps in early larva* 

 hood, the creature's fate was sealed ; a deadly enemy to 

 his race is ever on the alert, winging about in the shape- 

 of a small black fly, in search of an exposed and de- 

 fenceless caterpillar. Having selected her victim, she 

 pierces his body with a sharp cutting instrument she is 

 armed with, and in the wound deposits an egg ; the 



