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MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 
within a few days from the time they were gathered. Their change 
to the chrysalis state is an interesting operation, and by placing the 
box cover in a horizontal position, where one can watch it from 
below, the minutest detail in the process may be watched with ease. 
Then, too, one has not long to wait for the butterflies to hatch, and 
in this way a fine lot of perfect specimens is assured. 
Chrysalis of Vanessa. 
On emerging from its chrysalis the butterfly voids a red colored 
liquid which looks somewhat like drops of blood. As many of these 
butterflies and allied species frequently hatch at about the same 
time, the sprinkling of this red liquid on the streets and houses of 
towns has given rise in olden times, among the superstitious inhab¬ 
itants, to stories of showers of blood which were supposed to foretell 
disasters or wars. 
This butterfly inhabits Europe, and is supposed to have been 
introduced into America from there. It is not common in England, 
and the collector there capturing a fine specimen considers he has 
taken a prize. 
A much smaller but bright and attractive butterfly is Vanessa 
milberti. It is a much more northern species in its range than the 
preceding, being rarely found in the southern or middle portion of 
the United States. It is, however, common in northern New Eng¬ 
land and Canada, and, like the preceding, makes its appearance early 
in the spring and again later in the summer. 
The larva, which is dark and covered with short spines, feeds on 
the nettle and leads a gregarious life in the earlier part of its exist¬ 
ence. The butterfly is a wary and agile little creature, frequently 
opening and closing its wings in a sudden and nervous manner while 
at rest, as if it were impatient to be off. The under side, like that of 
Vanessa antiopa , is protective in coloring, rendering it difficult to see 
until it opens its wings. It is rare at my home in Wellesley, and we 
