rather slender and jointed. These are known as the true legs 
of the larva. Then we will observe ten more legs on the 
breast of the body. Now let us notice that the body of the 
caterpillar is marked by constrictions, or rings, making 
twelve sections. The three pairs of true legs are attached 
to the three consecutive sections just back of the head. The 
next two sections are without legs. Then come four sec¬ 
tions, each having a pair of very clumsy, fleshy, short legs, 
looking like mere protrusions from the body. If we have a 
hand-glass we may see at the end of these fat legs many 
short hooks, by means of which the caterpillar holds itself 
firmly to the plants upon which it feeds. Passing backward, 
we meet again two sections of the body without legs; and 
lastly, the final section bears another pair of these fat legs. 
These five pairs of legs are known as false legs, because 
they are possessed by this insect only during the larval 
stage. The three pairs of jointed legs near the head are the 
ones which are perpetuated in the butterfly that is devel¬ 
oped from the larva. 
These caterpillars devour their food very rapidly for 
twelve days, then they creep away to some secluded place 
to change into the chrysalis or pupa stage. It is remark¬ 
able to notice here that the food of this butterfly consists 
almost exclusively of the plants of a certain family, known 
as Cruciferae, which we may call the cabbage family of 
plants. To this belong the cabbage, cauliflower, radish, 
mustard and cress. Late in the season, however, the cater¬ 
pillars have been known to feed upon mignonette and nas¬ 
turtium. 
After the caterpillar has ceased eating, it loses its bright 
green color and seeks some secluded place to pupate. This 
may be upon old cabbage leaves or stalks, on fences or rub¬ 
bish, or, as frequently observed, on the outer walls of un¬ 
painted buildings. When a suitable place is found, the 
caterpillar spins from its mouth a silken thread, which is 
fastened to the surface chosen, and covers it entirely with a 
network of fibers, making a thin, hard cloth. Soon a small 
elevation of fibers is formed upon this cloth and the larva 
hooks itself to this by its hindmost pair of feet. This done, 
the caterpillar turns its head back upon itself to about the 
middle of its body and there fastens a thread fast upon 
5 
