84 
THE CHRYSALIS. 
or apparently anything to hold by, this is no 
trifling task. It sets about it by rolling the skin 
round and round like a stocking, beginning at 
the head, and pushing it all up to the tail. It 
is now hanging by the old skin, and the silken 
button is some distance above it. It must climb 
up until it reaches it, and how do you think this 
feat is accomplished ? f 
The rings or divisions of its body are so supple 
that they serve it instead of hands ; and with two 
of these, as with a pair of pincers, it nips up a 
piece of the skin, and then bends its body so as 
to draw out its tail. It is now free of the skin, 
and only holds to it by its rings. You might 
be almost afraid it would fall, but there is really 
no fear of any such accident. The silk button 
is still above it, so it nips up a piece more of 
the skin, higher up, and then another, a little 
higher still; thus it makes the old skin serve it 
as a ladder, until at last it reaches the top, and 
feels about with its tail for the silk button. The 
tail is furnished with a number of little hooks, 
that catch upon the threads, and hold it quite 
firm, and enable it to swing in safety. 
Only one more feat remains to be done. The 
chrysalis seems to dislike very much having the 
old skin so near it; and makes great efforts to 
throw it down. It seizes the threads, to which 
