LETTEES FEOM ALABAMA. 
187 
\there are few processes in nature more interesting 
to be witnessed than the transformations of a but- 
terfly. In this case the abdominal segments were 
at first much elongated, being distinctly separable, 
as in the caterpillar ; those of the thorax, on the 
contrary, were contracted, while the wings were 
small, thick, and wrinkled ; their extremities being 
free, for a purpose we shall presently discover. The 
whole skin was soft, moist, and pulpy, and the 
colour bright green, with alternate yellow bands. In 
a few hours, the abdominal segments had contracted 
into the form of a smooth, blunt cone, all traces of 
the divisions being lost, except where a fine line, 
scarcely perceptible, marked their position ; the 
thoracic segments had much lengthened, and the 
wings now occupied the half of the entire length ; 
their tips, which before were free, had stretched be- 
yond their first boundary, far over the abdomen, 
and were now fixed in the general outline. The 
whole surface was become tense, hard, and glossy, 
and the hue an uniform greenish white, with a few 
gilt dots. I may add, that the amusing act of taking 
hold of the sloughed skin with the abdomen, while 
the tail was thrust out to feel for the silk button, 
was performed just as the common Vanessae of our 
own country, the tortoise-shell, the peacock, &c. 
would do it: by observing which, most of the pre- 
ceding remarks may be readily verified. 
The chrysalis in question produced the imago 
in eight days, but under circumstances worthy of 
narration. Having accidentally let fall the box 
containing it, the fragile shell of the chrysalis was 
broken off, leaving the anal joint and tail-like 
process attached to the silk. It was, however, too 
near its exit for any wound to be made in the body 
