78 

 COCOONS AND CHRYSALIDS. 



Doubtless my reader has often, in his rambles, seen 

 caterpillars of many kinds, — some bright colored or 

 beautifully striped, other peculiarly shaped, stout or covered 

 with spines. Interesting nature studies may easily be made 

 of most caterpillars for, of course, they represent the 

 larval stage of some species of moths or butterflies. You 

 have but to take them home, place them in a box, one side 

 of which is screened, and keep them supplied with the 

 same kind of leaves upon which you found them feeding; 

 you will then witness the interesting changes that occur. 



To illustrate the life cycle of a moth I have selected the 

 Cecropia (Samia cecropia) one of the largest and most 

 beautiful species in our country. We may find the larva 

 or caterpillar feeding in maples, elms and willows and less 

 often on other deciduous trees, or one may have taken a 

 tumble and be found crawling along on the ground. The 

 full grown larva is fully three inches in length, very stout 

 and a dull whitish-green color ; it is covered with tubercules 

 that are blue on the sides, yellow on top and reddish near 

 the head. Before reaching its full size, the larva has moult- 

 ed or shed its skin, three or four times. It is not a beauti- 

 ful object to look upon and gives little promise of the ex- 

 quisite moth into which it will develop. 



Within a few days after attaining its full growth, the 

 larva will be ready to pupate or go into the "sleeping 

 stage" from which it will emerge a moth. Taking its 

 position at a favorable point on a branch, it will commence 

 to spin silken threads about it, the outer ones being firmly 

 fastened to the twig and often drawing several leaves into 

 the frame work. The first stages of this spinning process 

 are very interesting for we can watch the caterpillar 

 through the growing walls, — turning around and around 

 and often doubling up as it lays its silken trail. 



When finished, the cocoon is very firm, attached strongly 

 to its support and is waterproof. Within, the larva be- 



