116 
THE ESCAPE OF THE MOTH. 
Infinite Wisdom has also provided her with the 
means of extricating herself. 
The chrysalis is furnished with a number of 
little points down its sides, and under its body, 
and when the time is come, it is impelled by in¬ 
stinct to work its way upwards, and upwards, 
through the soil, until at length it has reached 
the surface, and its head and shoulders are 
pushed above the ground. The little points have 
helped it along like arms, as those of the goat 
moth did; and then the chrysalis case bursts, and 
the moth finds herself, not in a prison under¬ 
ground but in the enjoyment of light and air. 
Many of the cocoons that are found above 
ground, have a lid large enough to allow the moth 
to pass. You would not see the lid unless you 
examined the cocoon very carefully, for it looks 
as if it were one solid piece; but there it is, 
fastened down by a few slight threads, that the 
moth can easily break. 
But sometimes the cocoon itself opens, to allow 
the moth to pass, and then closes again behind her. 
There is a curious cocoon spun by a small 
caterpillar that feeds on the black alder tree. It 
is of two pieces, shaped like a boat upside down, 
and is elegantly fluted with cords of silk, and 
the spaces between are filled up with fine net¬ 
work. 
