166 LIFE, IN ITS INTERMEDIATE FORMS. 
and the further the work proceeds the worse it appears to 
grow. But by and by, they begin to become smooth and 
even again ; the distension and expansion have reached to 
every part in an uniform ratio, and wings of full size and 
perfect form are developed, still, however, soft, flaccid, 
and pendent. A quarter of an hour more removes this 
defect ; the elegant organs momentarily acquire rigidity ; 
at length the insect can raise them to an erect position. 
As soon as this is attained, the beautiful creature marches 
to and fro, as if rejoicing in its new powers, and proud to 
display them ; but in reality testing the capabilities of 
its organs, and perhaps accustoming itself, by repeatedly 
opening and shutting its wings, to the practice of those 
muscular movements on the force and precision of which 
its flight will depend. 
At length it launches into the air, aud sails away 
to the inviting flowers, a happy denizen of a new 
element. 
Processes essentially parallel with those above described 
take place in the history of all Insects, though the varieties 
of habit produce a certain amount of variety in the de- 
tails. Not a few, as the Insects of the orders Orthoptera 
and Nf.ueoptera, are active in the pupa stato ; but, in 
general, as in Beetles, Bees, and Flies, the creature in 
this stage is motionless, swathed and helpless, like the 
chrysalis of a Butterfly or Moth. Of the former condition 
the Dragon-fly ( Libellula ) may afford us an example. The 
early stages of this vigorous flier are passed' beneath 
the waters. The female, poising her body over the 
surface of some pool, deposits her eggs, which sink to 
