10 THE WHITE ADMIRAL 



all stages till the coming of autumn, when the 

 chrysalis must hybernate as such, or the race 

 become extinct. Though the number of 

 broods during the summer depends to some 

 extent on weather conditions, the matter 

 cannot be left to chance at the end of the 

 season, when further development of the pupa 

 must be arrested in order that it may survive 

 the winter months. We note the duration of 

 the pupal period varies, say, from twenty 

 days to six months. It is apparent, therefore, 

 that this period is not subject to the variable 

 conditions of the weather, but is surely ruled 

 by subconscious mind which times the working 

 of nature's machinery down to the smallest 

 detail. 



Though all lepidoptera undergo the same 

 changes, each class has different schemes for 

 protection, and habits adapted to the nature 

 of its surroundings. I have described the pro- 

 ceedings of the Cabbage-White because it is 

 an insect that anyone may study ; but there 

 are others who show, what appears to be, even 

 greater foresight. The White Admiral (Limeni- 

 tis Sibylla) is notably one of these. Com- 

 paratively rare, and seeing the risks it incurs, 

 the marvel is that this butterfly exists at all. 



I give an epitome of this insect's life- 

 history, as it bears strongly on the subject. 



