58 METAMOBPHOSES OF MAN 



The Pieris in the new condition which it will main- 

 tain during the winter, bears hardly any resemblance 

 to the caterpillar. The skin, which is dense and horny, 

 is covered with a sort of varnish, thrown out at the 

 moment of the metamorphosis, and rapidly dried. 

 It has now assumed an ashy hue, picked out with 

 black and yellow. The body has become thicker, but, 

 as it were to compensate for this increase, has been 

 shortened by about one-third. Instead of being made 

 up of rings from end to end, it now exhibits two prin- 

 cipal segments. The hinder one alone, which is short 

 and conical, presents the annulose condition, although 

 there is a keel-like elevation upon the dorsal portion 

 of the anterior segment, and a kind of crest upon its 

 under surface. The head and feet seem at first sight 

 to have disappeared altogether. On closer examina- 

 tion, however, we can detect a series of rounded eleva- 

 tions and projections, arranged symmetrically. Know- 

 ing what this inert mass will eventually become, we can 

 almost fancy that we see the various organs beneath 

 the skin, or rather beneath the cement which invests 

 it ; the proboscis, antennae, and wings being indicated 

 in the same manner as the form and proportions of 

 a mummy are rudely mapped out by the bandages 

 which enshroud it. To all intents and purposes the 

 chrysalis is a mummy. 



About the middle of spring, or beginning of sum- 

 mer, the Pieris undergoes its second metamorphosis. 

 Its envelope splits along the dorsal portion, and the 

 organs which had been inclosed by the crests and 

 elevations come out, as if from a case ; then the entire 

 animal disengages itself, and from the chrysalis coffin 

 there emerges a perfect butterfly. At first its feet are 



