NATURAL HISTORY. at 
ttigs and contradtions in every ring, the animal difengages itfelf, and 
teeps from its inconvenient covering. : 
How laborious foever this operation may be, it is performed in the 
foace of a minute ; and the animal, having thrown off its old fkin, feemg 
to enjoy new vigour, as well as to have acquired colouring and beauty. 
ometimes it happens that it takes a new appearance and colours very’ 
different from the old.. Thofe that are hairy, ftill preferve their covers 
ing; although their ancient fkin feeris not to have loft a fingle hairs 
€very hair appears to have been drawn, like a {word from the fcabbard.: 
Owever the fact is, that a new crop of hair grows between the old 
in and the new, and probably helps to throw off the external coverings 
The caterpillar having in this manner continued for feveral days 
feeding, and at intervals cating its fkin, begins at laft to prepare for’ 
its change into an aurelia. It is moft probable that, fromm the begins 
Ning, all the parts of the butterfly lay hid in this infeé, in its reptilé 
Rate ; but it required time to bring them to perfection; and a large’ 
quantity of food, to enable the aninial to undergo all the changes re- 
Quifite for throwing off thefe fkins, which feemed to clog the butterfly 
orm, However, when the caterpillar has fed fufficiently, and thé 
_ Parts of the future butterfly have formed themfelves beneath its fkiny 
itis then time for it to make its firlt, great, and principal change intd 
@n aurelia, or a cryfalis, as fome have chofen to call it ; during which; 
88 was obferved, it feertis to remain for feveral days, or even monthsy 
Without life or motion. Ss Ee eee 
Preparatory to this impottant change, the caterpillar moft ufually’ 
Quits the plant, or the tree on which it fed; or at leaft attaches itfelf 
to the ftalk or the ftem, more gladly tlian the leaves. It forfakes its 
400d, and prepares; by fafting, to undergo its tradfmutation. In this 
Period, all the food it has taker is thotoughly digefted; and it often, 
Voids even the internal memibrane which lined its inteftines. Some of 
this tribe, at this period alfo, are feen entirely to change colour; and 
the vivacity of the tints, in all, feems faded. Thofe of them which aré’ 
Capable of {pinning themfelves a web, fet about this operation ; thofé 
Which have already fpun, await the change in the beft manner they ard 
able. The web or cone, with which fome cover thermfelves, hides the 
®urelia contained within from the view ; but in others, where it is moré 
tranfparent, the caterpillar, when it has done fpinning, ftrikes into it 
© claws of the two feet under the tail, and afterwards forces in the 
tail itfelf, by contracting thofe claws, and violently ftriking the feet one 
@gainft the other. If, however, they be taken from their web at this 
“me, they appear in a Rate of great languor; and, incapable of walk- 
Ng, remain on that {pot' where they are placed. In this condition they 
Temain one or two days, preparing to change into an aurelia; fome- 
Ps at in the manner they made preparations for changing their tkin: 
ey then appear with their bodies bent into a bow, which they now 
and then are feen to ftraighten: they make no ufe of their legs ; but if 
e 
Proportion as their change into an aurelia approaches, their body 
€tomes more and more bent; while their extenfions and convulfive 
bh 
ContraGions. become more frequent. ‘The hinder end of the body is” 
€ part which the animal firft difengages froma its caterpillar ikin ; that 
art-of the dkin remains empty, while the body is drawn up contracted? 
ly 
I Y atternpt to change place, do it by the contortions of their body. 
In 
