CHANGES OF INSECTS. 145 



LESSON XXIX. 



CHANGES OP INSECTS CABBAGE-BUTTERFLY 



GNATS. 



ONE of the most striking circumstances about 

 insects is the curious and extraordinary changes 

 in shape, or transformations, through which they 

 pass. First they are an egg, then a grub or mag- 

 got, then a caterpillar, then a chrysalis, and in the 

 end a perfectly formed insect. In these various 

 states the animal often dwells on vegetables ; then 

 under ground, or in the water ; then on land ; and 

 eventually is clothed with wings, and lives chiefly 

 in the air. During these changes, which ofteji 

 occupy years, for the stag-beetle remains a larva or 

 grub for six, and the day-fly for three years, food 

 of various kinds is eaten. The care of Almighty 

 God, has, however, amply provided for all these 

 variations, and we cannot sufficiently admire his 

 wisdom, who feeds and clothes the maggot hidden 

 under ground, equally with the splendid insect 

 which is to spring from it 



Any one who examines a cabbage leaf will find 

 little parcels of eggs, and if these are watched, 

 caterpillars will be found to come from them. 

 These have sixteen short legs, twelve eyes, which 

 are exceedingly small, and a. pair of jaws, with 

 which, as it crawls, it is constantly eating. Each 

 creature keeps increasing in size, changes its skin 

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