326 THE SEASON 



"Thou shalt plant vineyards, aid dress them, but shalt neither drink of tho 



wine, nor gather the grapes : for the worms shall eat them." 



DEUTERONOMY xxvm. 



1290. Why does the caterpillar eat voraciously ? 



Because it grows rapidly, and a large amount of vegetable 

 matter is necessary to supply the rapid growth of its animal 

 substance. Caterpillars in the course of a month devour 60,000 

 times their own weight of aliment. 



Fig. 77. THE UNDER BIDE OF Fig. 78. THE SAME CHRYSALIS, WITH PAET 

 THE CHRYSALIS OP THE PEA- OP ITS SHEATH RAISED TO SHOW THE 



COCK BUTTERFLY. PARTIALLY-FOBMED WINGS, 4c. 



1291. Why do caterpillars pass into the state of the 

 chrysalis ? 



Because they are thereby prepared for the new existence which 

 they are about to enjoy ; new organs must be perfected in them to 

 adapt them to the altered conditions of their lives. 



Because, also, in the transformation of their bodies, differing 

 materially from the laws of existence that pertain to other creatures, 

 the Creator affords another illustration of his Omnipotence. 



Because, also, during the stage that the insect sleeps in the 

 chrysalis, the flowers and their sweet juices, upon which the fly is to 

 feed, are being prepared for it, just as, when it was sleeping in the 

 egg, the green food was being prepared for the caterpillar. When, 

 therefore, the beautiful fly spreads its silken wings, it finds a second 

 time that, while it has slept, its meal has been prepared, and it now 

 flies away joyously to feed upon the milk and honey of beautiful 

 flowers which, at the time it passed into the chrysalis, had not yet 

 unfolded their petals. 



