LIFE HISTORY OF INSECTS. 



217 



quantities of food till the last coat is cast off. 

 These coats, as you can well understand, are 

 cast off to allow the insect to grow. When it 

 ceases growing it throws off no more coats, 

 but soon enters into the next stage of exist- 

 ence the chrysalis, or resting condition, called 

 the pupa. 



As long as the insect remains in the chrysalis 

 condition, it tastes no food and remains quite 

 quiet, only when touched showing the slightest 

 movement. 



Some insects remain in this resting condition 

 for several months ; but 

 many, if not most, re- 

 main so for a week or 

 ten days only. 



In every kind of 

 insect the length of 

 the chrysalised condi- 

 tion depends on the 

 weather. 



If a butterfly cater- 

 pillar turns into the pupa condition during the 

 summer months, the perfect insect may emerge 

 in eight or ten days ; but if the chrysalis con- 

 dition is reached at the approach of winter, the 

 change may be delayed till the warmth of the 

 following spring sun comes round. 



When the time approaches for the perfect 



PEACOCK BUTTERFLY. 



