CATERPILLARS AND BUTTERFLIES 255 



"These precautions taken, the caterpillar strips 

 off its skin and becomes a nymph, but very different 

 from that which the stag-beetle showed us. The 

 coleopter, in its nymph stage, was already recogniz- 

 able, with its branching mandibles, its legs folded on 

 its stomach, and its wings enclosed in their sheaths. 

 The butterfly, on the contrary, is not at all discernible 

 under the casing of the nymph. This nymph, with 

 skin as tough as parchment, is an object little indi- 

 cative of its true nature and much more suggestive 

 of the kernel of some strange fruit than of aiiy ani- 

 mal form. Because of its shape, so different from 

 that shown to us by ordinary nymphs, it has received 

 a special name, that of chrysalis. < 



"This word means golden sheath. Sometimes, 

 notably in the case of the Vanessa, the chrysalis is 

 adorned with gilding; but in the great majority of 

 instances the suggestive name is not deserved, a uni- 

 form chestnut hue, darker or lighter, being the usual 

 color of the chrysalis. Ripened by long repose, this 

 species of animal shell splits down the back and re- 

 leases the perfect insect, complete in all its attributes. 

 The butterfly passes a few festive days amid the 

 flowers, and before dying lays eggs whence will 

 spring caterpillars to continue the race." 



