THE CHRYSALIS. 
83 
a much shorter time in the chrysalis state. 
It simply suspends itself by the tail; or by 
a girth passed round the middle of its body, 
and secured to the gate, or branch, it has chosen 
for its retreat. 
When the Caterpillar is about to become a 
chrysalis, it leaves off eating, and wanders, hither 
and thither, as if it were bewildered. But it is 
in fact searching for a safe place, where it may 
suspend itself out of sight, and, if possible, out of 
reach of danger. We will suppose it to have 
fixed upon the under side of a branch; and the 
first thing it does is to spin to it a little button 
of silk, strong enough to bear its own weight. 
Then it thrusts its hind legs into the button, and 
with the hooks upon the feet takes firm hold 
upon the threads. When it has made quite sure 
the button will, not give way, it suffers itself to 
fall, and hangs with its head downwards. 
It next bends itself backwards and forwards, in 
every direction, until the skin splits at the back 
of the head, and out comes a part of the chrysalis. 
The chrysalis wriggles itself well about, and makes 
the slit longer and longer, until it reaches from 
the head to the tail. 
So far, so well. But the chrysalis has to free 
itself from the skin of the caterpillar, and to 
hang itself up in its place; and as it has no feet, 
