THE WHITE BUTTERFLY. 
271 
its back and secures on' tlie other side, and repeats this 
operation till the united threads have formed a band or loop 
of sufficient strength. On the next day it casts off the 
caterpillar skin, and becomes a chrysalis. This is sometimes 
of a pale green, and sometimes of a white color, regularly 
and finely dotted with black; the sides of the body are 
angular, tlie head is surmounted by a conical tubercle, 
and over the fore part of the body, corresponding to the 
thorax of the included butterfly, is a thin projection, having 
in profile some resemblance to a Roman nose. 
The chrysalis state lasts eleven days, at the expiration of 
which the insect comes forth a butterfly. The wings are 
white, but dusky next to the body; the tips of the upper 
ones are yellowish beneath, with dusky veins; the under 
side of the hinder wings is straAv-colored, Avith broad dusky 
A'eins, and the angles next to the body are deep yelloAv; the 
back is black, and the antennae are blackish, AAUth narroAv 
Avhite rings, and ochre-yelloAV at the tips. The Avings ex¬ 
pand about tAvo inches. 
I haA^e seen these butterflies in great abundance during the 
latter part of July and the beginning of August, in pairs, or 
laying their eggs for a second brood of caterpillars. The 
chrysalids produced from this autumnal brood suiwiA^e the 
Avinter, and the butterflies are not disclosed from them till 
May or June. In gardens or fields infested by the cater¬ 
pillars, boards, placed horizontally an inch or two aboA^e the 
surface of the soil, Avill be resorted to by them AAdien they 
are about to change to chrysalids, and here it Avill be easy 
to find, collect, and destroy them, either in the caterpillar 
or chrysalis state. Tlie butterflies also may easily be taken 
by a large and deep bag-net of muslin, attached to a handle 
of fiA^e or six feet in length ; for they fly Ioav and lazily, 
especially AAdien busy in laying their eggs. In Europe the 
caterpillars of the Avhite butterflies are eaten by the larger 
titmouse (^Pariis major)^ and probably our OAvn titmouse 
or chickadee, AAdth other insect-eating birds, Avill be found 
equally useful, if properly protected. 
