ct language,
they consider these changes in the light rather of successive developments
and emancipations of the various organs than as their actual
transformations. Still, it seems to me, the difference is chiefly one of
terms. The real wondrous fact remains undiminished and {17} unexplained;
that a creeping wormlike creature, in process of time, is changed into a
glorious winged being, differing from the former in form, habits, food, and
every essential particular, as widely as any two creatures can well differ,
as widely as a serpent from a bird, for instance.

As the imprisoned butterfly approaches maturity, a change is observable in
the exterior of the chrysalis, the skin becomes dry and brittle, usually
darkens in colour, and if the enclosed butterfly be a strongly marked one,
the pattern of its wings shows through, often quite distinctly.

When the fulness of time arrives, the creature breaks through its thin
casings, which divide in several places, and the freed insect crawls up
into some convenient spot to dry itself, and allow the wings to expand.

All the organs are at first moist and tender, but on exposure to the air
soon acquire strength and firmness.

At the moment of emergence, the wings are very miniature affairs, sometimes
hardly one-twentieth of their full size when expanded; but so rapid is
their increase in volume, that they may actually be seen to grow, as the
fluids from the body are pumped into the nervures that support the
wing-membrane, and keep it extended.

In the more strongly marked, or richly coloured species, it is a
wonderfully beautiful sight to watch this expansion of the wings, and to
see the various features {18} of their painted devices growing under the
eye and developing gradually into their true proportions.

Generally within an hour the development is complete, and the wings, having
gained their full expanse and consistency by drying in the sun, are ready
for flight, and the glad creature wings his way to the fields of air, and
enters on that life of sunshine and hilarity which is associated with the
very name of "_Butterfly_."

But not every chrysalis arrives at this happy consummation of its
existence. Supposing that you have reared and watched a caterpillar to
apparently healthy maturity, that it has duly become a chrysalis, and you
are awaiting its appearance in butterfly splendour--peeping into your box
some morning to see if the bright expected one is "out," be not s