218 A COUNTRY HEADER. 



insect or imago to emerge from the sleeping 

 chrysalis, the pupa coat is cast off, and the insect 

 comes forth perfect in all its parts. 



Very naturally after all these .exertions the 

 insect rests awhile before taking to flight. The 

 wings of butterflies and moths at first are 

 somewhat drooping and difficult to spread, and 

 the body is soft and moist. 



After a rest and exposure to the sun the insect 

 gains strength, pulls itself together, and its 

 wings enlarge and expand ; and then away it 

 flies, happy in its higher career, glad of its 

 freedom. 



But it has not long to live. The female imago 

 lays the eggs and then, soon afterwards, dies, and 

 so the round of its existence is complete. 



From an egg, through the steps of caterpillar 

 and chrysalis, the perfect insect has come. 



The length of the life of a larva depends on 

 the quantity and quality of the food that it can 

 obtain. 



The larval life of the bee is less than a week, 

 because the grub, directly it is hatched, finds 

 food all around it a plentiful supply of honey 

 and pollen. 



The blow fly, hatched out in meat, remains a 

 larva from eight to ten days. 



The caterpillars that feed on leaves have to 

 work harder for their food, and as it is of a less 



