38 LETTERS ON EXTOMOLOGV. 
seen out at that time. The great sphinx cater- 
pillar is extremely beautiful, and appears quite 
conscious of the advantage, for it sits almost up- 
right, and holds its head in a most conceited 
manner. It is of a vivid peagreen, with lilac and 
white stripes on the sides, and a curved horn on 
the tail. It feeds on the privet, and turns to a 
large chrysalis after burying itself deep in the 
ground ; in the beginning of July it emerges, a 
large handsome moth. 
All caterpillars often change their skins, and 
frequently come out with quite different ones. 
They are not always torpid in the chrysalis state, 
for some will spring to a considerable height and 
move with great activity. The chrysalis of the 
bombyx dispar (a rare moth), turns round when 
touched, with great quickness, but as if fearful 
of breaking the thread by which it is suspended, 
by constantly twisting in one direction, it turns 
back again. 
A small brownish chrysalis, which is scarcely 
a quarter of an inch long, can jump more than 
an inch into the air, which in proportion to its 
length is a great height. 
I often wondered how the chrysalis that sus- 
pends itself by its tail could effect its purpose, till 
I had watched its manoeuvres repeatedly. Reau- 
