66 



ELEMENTARY ENTOMOLOGY 



will wriggle a little, but otherwise it hangs there mute and helpless. On the 

 inside, however, the tissues are being made over in such a wonderful way 

 that in about two weeks, from the mummy case into which the caterpillar 

 entered, there comes a beautiful butterfly. When it first breaks the mummy 

 shell its wings are very small, although its body, ft feelers," and legs are well 

 developed. By means of the latter it clings to the empty chrysalis while the wings 

 expand. A butterfly in this position, with its wings nearly expanded, is shown 

 in Fig. 86, from a photograph taken from a living specimen. In the course of half 



an hour the wings become fully de- 

 veloped, and the butterfly is likely 

 to crawl to some firmer support, 

 where it will rest an hour or so 

 before venturing on its first flight. 



In New Hampshire there 

 seems to be but a single gen- 

 eration a year, the newly 

 emerged butterflies appear- 

 ing in July or August and dis- 

 appearing during August and 

 September, though they are 

 seen occasionally on warm 

 days in late fall. Under the 

 side of a log, beneath the 

 loose bark of a dead tree, in 

 woodpiles, and in similar sit- 

 uations the butterflies are to 

 be found during the winter 

 lying flat on the side, sus- 

 pended under a culvert, or 

 in a hollow tree. Apparently 

 they are dead, but if taken 

 into a warm room, they will 

 quickly revive and fly about, and if given a little sugar-water for 

 food, will live for some time. Often in summer they will drop on 

 one side, motionless, evidently feigning death, and if lying on a 

 background of dead leaves, are very difficult to see. 



FIG. 86. Newly emerged mourning cloak 



butterfly hanging to empty chrysalis while 



its wings expand and harden 



(Photograph by Weed) 



