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IV 







Of the Eggs, and manner of laying them. 



Moths and butterflies deposit their eggs in remarkably different manners ; some 

 fasten them to the food by a viscous moisture, detached from each other, at small but 

 irregular distances: others lay them in a confused heap, fastened together like a lump 

 of sand: some range them in regular order, like a curious pavement of round pebbles; 

 these are on a plain or flat surface : but others lay them round a stalk or blade of 

 grass ; some cover them with a woolly or downy substance, which keeps them from 

 the cold and hides them from the sight of birds : others drop them, as they fly, loose 

 on the ground, in a promiscuous manner ; of these, most of the caterpillars feed 

 on the grass. 





Of the Caterpillar ; and its change to the Chrysalis. 



In their progress from the egg to the chrysalis they shift or throw off several 

 skins, generally one every seven days ; but I am not certain whether they all shift 

 the same number of skins : those which I have noticed have cast their skins five 

 times, and it is supposed they all do the same : however, they are about seven 

 weeks in their caterpillar state, at the expiration of which time they are full fed, 

 and prepare for a future state by making themselves a secure retreat, wherein they 

 lie two or three days, during which time they shrink and grow shorter, losing the use 

 of their feet entirely, and appear as if in great agony; at length the skin on the first 

 two joints behind the head, which at this time appear very much swelled, bursts, or 

 rather splits, and opens some way down the back and across the head, so that in some 

 you would at first sight suppose the head of itself was divided. During this time 

 the caterpillar strives to throw off its skin, which however it facilitates by a motion 

 very peculiar, working off the skin joint by joint till it arrives quite to the tail ; nor 

 does it cease twisting and turning itself till quite disengaged from it : it is very soft 

 and tender, and it is generally a day before the shell of the chrysalis becomes hard ; 

 during which time of hardening it very frequently turns itself, that the side on which 

 it lies may not be flatulated or deformed : yet when the shell becomes hard it lies 

 motionless, unless disturbed by some accident, till the expiration of a certain time, 

 and at length breaks forth into the winged state : but during the time of its being in 

 the chrysalis state it receiveth no nourishment of any kind, although some remain 

 in that state near two years. 







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From the Chrysalis to the Fly. 



When the fly is perfectly formed within the chrysalis, or more properly when 

 each part has arrived at its proper shape, strength, and texture, the chrysalis then 

 appears much darker; and if that of a butterfly, the markings of the wings are plainly 

 seen through the transparent chrysalis. At this time the hull or shell of the chrysalis 

 is separated from the fly /whose every part begins to grow drier, whereby it is better 

 enabled to separate them : thus being as it were unbound and capable of moving, 

 it makes a strong effort at once with that part which I shall call its shoulders, and 

 pushing at the same time with its legs forward, it splits the head-part of the shell in 





