In the same manner all plants undergo a metamorphosis, they shake off their lawa state, and 



change into an aurelia. It is most probable that, from the beginning, all the parts of the butterfly lay hid in this insect, in its reptile 

 state; but it required time to bring them to perfection ; and a large quantity of food, to enable the animal to undergo all the changes requisite 

 for throwing off these skins, which seemed to clog the butterfly form. However, when the caterpillar has fed sufficiently, and the parts ot 

 the future butterfly have formed themselves beneath its skin, it is then time for it to make its first great and principal change into an aurelia, 

 or a chrysalis, as some have chosen to call it ; during which, as was observed, it seems to remain for several days, or even months, without 



life or motion. 



Preparatory to this important change, the caterpillar most usually quits the plant, or the tree on which it fed; or at least attaches itselt 

 to the stalk or the stem, more gladly than the leaves. It forsakes its food, and prepares, by fasting, to undergo its transmutation. In this 

 period, all the food it has taken is thoroughly digested ; and it often voids even the internal membrane which lined its intestines. Some of 

 this tribe, at this period also, are seen entirely to change colour; and the vivacity of the tints in all, seem faded. Those of them which are 

 capable of spinning themselves a web, set about this operation; those which have already spun, await the change in the best manner they are 

 able The web or cone, with which some cover themselves, hides the aurelia contained within from the view; but in others, where it is 

 more transparent, the caterpillar, when it has done spinning, strikes into it the claws of the two feet under the tail, and afterwards forces in 

 the tail itself, by contracting those claws, and violently striking the feet one against the other. If, however, they be taken from their web 

 at this time, they appear in a state of great languor; and, being incapable of walking, remain on that spot where they are placed. In this 

 condition they remain one or two days, preparing to change into an aurelia ; somewhat in the manner they made preparations for changing 

 their skin. They then appear with their bodies bent into a bow, which they now and then are seen to straiten : they make no use of their 

 legs ; but if they attempt to change place, do it by the contortions of their body. In proportion as their change into an aurelia approaches, 

 their body becomes more and more bent ; while their extensions and convulsive contractions become more frequent. The hinder end of the 

 body is the part which the animal first disengages from its caterpillar skin ; that part of the skin remains empty, while the body is drawn up 

 contractedly towards the head. In the same manner they disengage themselves from the two succeeding rings; so that the animal is then 

 lodged entirely in the fore part of its caterpillar covering : that half which is abandoned, remains flaccid and empty ; while the fore part, on 

 the'eontrary, is swollen and distended. The animal, having thus quitted the hinder part of its skin to drive itself up into the fore part, still 

 continues to heave and work as before ; so that the skull is soon seen to burst into three pieces, and a longitudinal opening is made in the three 

 first rings of the body, through which the insect thrusts forth its naked body, with strong efforts. Thus at last, it entirely gets free from its 

 caterpillar skin, and for ever forsakes its reptile form. 



The caterpillar, thus stripped of its skin for the last time, is now become an aurelia ; in which the parts of the future butterfly are all 

 visible; but in so soft a state, that the smallest touch can discompose them. The animal is now become helpless and motionless; but only 

 waits for the assistance of the air to dry up the moisture on its surface, and supply it with a crust capable of resisting external injuries. Im- 

 mediately after being stripped of its caterpillar skin, it is of a green colour, especially in those parts which arc distended by an extraordinary 

 afflux of animal moisture ; but in ten or twelve hours after being thus exposed, its parts harden, the air forms its external covering into a firm 

 crust and in about four-and-twenty hours, the aurelia may be handled without endangering the little animal that is thus left in so defence- 

 less a situation Such is the history of the little pod or cone that is found so common by every path- way, sticking to nettles, and sometimes 

 shining like polished gold. From the beautiful and resplendent colour, with which it is thus sometimes adorned, some authors have called it 

 a Chrysalis, implying a creature made of gold. 



Such are the efforts by which these little animals prepare for a state of perfection; but their care is still greater to provide themselves a 

 secure retreat, during this season of their imbecility. It would seem like erecting themselves a monument, where they were to rest secure, 

 until Nature had called them into a new and more improved existence. For this purpose, some spin themselves a cone or web, in which 

 they lie secure till they have arrived at maturity: others, that cannot spin so copious a covering, suspend themselves by the tail, in some re- 

 treat where they are not likely to meet disturbances. Some mix sand with their gummy and moist webs, and thus make themselves a secure 

 incrustation ; while others, before their change, bury themselves in the ground, and thus avoid the numerous dangers that might attend them. 

 One would imagine that they were conscious of the precise time of their continuance in their aurelia state; since their little sepulchres, 

 with respect to "he solidity of the building, are proportioned to such duration. Those that are to lie in that state of existence but a few days, 

 make choice of some tender leaf, which they render still more pliant by diffusing a kind of glue upon it ; the leaf thus gradually curls up, 

 and withering as it enfolds, the insect wraps itself within, as in a mantle, till the genial warmth of the sun enables it to struggle for new 

 life, and burst from its confinement. Others, whose time of transformation is also near at hand, fasten their tails to a tree, or to the first 

 worm-hole they meet, in a beam, and wait in that defenceless situation. Such caterpillars, on the other hand, as are seen to lie several 

 months in their aurelia state, act with much greater circumspection. Most of them mix their web with sand, and thus make themselves a 

 strong covering : others build in wood, which serves them in the nature of a coffin. Such as have made the leaves of willows their favourite 

 food, break the tender twigs of them first into small pieces, then pound them as it were to powder; and, by means of their glutinous silk, 

 make a kind of paste, in which they wrap themselves up. Many are the forms which these animals assume in this helpless state. 



The aurelia, though it bears a different external appearance, nevertheless contains within it all the parts of the butterfly in perfect 

 formation ; and laying each in a very orderly manner, though in the smallest compass. These, however, are so fast and tender, that it is 

 impossible to examine without discomposing them. When either by warmth, or increasing vigour, the parts have acquired the necessary 

 force and solidity, the butterfly then seeks to disembarrass itself of those bands which kept it so long in confinement. Some insects continue 

 under the form of an aurelia not above ten days ; some twenty; some several months ; and even for a year together. 



The butterfly, however, does not continue so long under the form of an aurelia, as one would be apt to imagine. In general, those 

 caterpillars that provide themselves with cones, continue within them but a few days after the cone is completely finished. Some, however, 

 remain buried in this artificial covering for eight or nine months, without taking the smallest sustenance during the whole time : and though 

 in the caterpillar state no animals were so voracious, when thus transformed they appear a miracle of abstinence. In all, sooner or later, the 

 butterfly bursts from its prison ; not only that natural prison which is formed by the skin of the aurelia, but also from that artificial one of 

 silk, or any other substance in which it has enclosed itself. 



The efforts which the butterfly makes to get free from its aurelia state, are by no means so violent as those which the insect had in 

 changing from the caterpillar into the aurelia. The quantity of moisture surrounding the butterfly is by no means so great as that attending 

 its former change ; and the shell of the aurelia is so dry, that it may be cracked between the fingers. 



If the animal be shut up within a cone, the butterfly always gets rid of the natural internal skin of the aurelia, before it eats its way 



h through 



