142 NATURE STUDY AND AGRICULTURE 



The children may not be fortunate enough to see the 

 larva skin split and wrinkle backward till it drops off at 

 the hinder end, but they will see the pupa that is left in 

 place of the larva. How does it differ from the larva? 

 Does it move about or eat ? Is it alive ? Touch it gently 

 to see if it moves. 



If you start this study in early September, some of the 

 pupae will change into butterflies. This change occurs 

 during the summer in about ten days. Late in the fall 

 those that pupate remain in that stage all winter, to produce 

 the first generation of butterflies in the spring. 



Study the butterflies. Have children watch them out 

 of doors to see what they are doing. They will probably 

 find them flitting among flowers as well as over the cabbage 

 patch. What are they doing on the flowers ? Leave this 

 as a problem. Put a few butterflies into the terrarium. 

 Place in it also a bottle of water containing some flowers. 

 Clover will serve the purpose very well. Watch to see 

 how the butterflies uncoil their long sucking tubes to sip 

 the nectar from the flowers. They will do the same thing 

 if you place a few drops of sweetened water in the cage. 

 Are all the butterflies the same color? Those that have 

 two black spots on the fore wing are females. 



Find out to what extent the cabbage worms are con- 

 sidered a pest in your district? Do they feed on cauli- 

 flower and other members of the cabbage family ? What 

 may be done to keep them in check? Insect powder 

 diluted with seven times its bulk of flour and dusted on the 

 leaves is sometimes effective. Many people sprinkle the 

 leaves with hot water. Have the water almost boiling 

 when put in the watering can. By the time it reaches the 



