ZOOLOGY 



the proboscis, while from the under side grow three pair 

 of feet. These may be seen pressing against the wall of the 

 pupa. Finally, the cuticula of the pupa bursts, and there 

 emerges the last stage of the butterfly, known as the imago. The 

 wings, which are at first folded, are broadly expanded and 



dried, and then the 

 butterflj' is readj^ 

 to take its flight 

 (Frontispiece) . 



Ecology. — But- 

 terflies feed mostly 

 during the larval 

 stage (Fig. 36) ; the 

 pupa can take no 

 food ; the adults of 

 many species touch 

 no food, but in 

 other cases suck 

 the nectar of flow- 

 ers, the sap of 

 plants, a n d the 

 juice of fruits. The 

 larvae feed, as a 

 rule, on plants; but 

 a few, such as the clothes-moth and certain enemies of scale- 

 insects (pag;e 24), feed on animal matter. The ]ilant feeders 

 differ in the variety of food they use. At one extreme we 

 have forms that starve unless they can reach thcnr own par- 

 ticular food-plant ; at the other extreme there are caterpillars 

 which can live upon the foliage of manj' kinds of plants. 

 Certain families of plants are especially preferred by cater- 



FiG. 3.5. — Cocoon, c\it open to show pupa. 



