214 
THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 
often the foot is encircled with a row of sharp 
hooks, that under the microscope have a most 
formidable aspect. In this somewhat repulsive 
form the caterpillar is known to everybody; 
and generally the more beautiful the coming 
butterfly, the more repellant the worm. Look 
at this, one of the smallest and least offensive, 
and yet large enough to repel any close ac¬ 
quaintance. 
“ To one unacquainted with the wonderful 
life of the butterfly, this poor crawler would 
be little suggestive of the brilliant life of which 
it is the prophecy, and which, on fulfilment, is 
seen floating through the air and feeding on the 
nectar of flowers. But let us be more observing, 
and see if the asserted fact can be verified. 
“ In watching the progress of the humble 
larva, he is seen to doff his outer wrappings 
for a number of times with little or no change 
in form or markings; but by and by some new 
movement is evidently approaching. The poor 
worm becomes dull, loses color, and seems to 
be perplexed. After some hesitation it spins a 
cocoon or a few silken threads, and wraps itself 
in its self-made cerements, or hangs itself with 
the cord of its own spinning head downward, 
