case and emerges soft and wet; but it quickly dries and spreads its
wings to commence its life in the air and sunshine. The chrysalis is
represented in the figure on the left. The butterfly, it will be
recognized, is one of the common insects so familiar to all, with
strongly veined white wings, bearing three black spots, two on the
upper and one on the lower wing, and dark coloring on the corner of
the upper wings. The antennæ, as with all butterflies, are clubbed at
the extremity--unlike moths', which are tapering--and the large black
staring eyes are the optical apparatus, containing, we are told,
thousands of lenses, each a perfect, simple eye.

The wings derive their chief coloring from the covering of scales,
which lie on like slates on a roof, and are attached in a similar
manner. A small portion of the wing magnified is represented at the
bottom right hand corner, and detached scales more highly magnified
next to it, exhibiting somewhat the form of battledoors.


THE PEACOCK BUTTERFLY.

Another well known insect is illustrated in the figure in the upper
portion--the peacock butterfly (Vanessa Io). The curious spiked and
spotted caterpillar feeds upon the common nettle. This beautiful
butterfly--common in most districts--is brilliantly colored and
figured on the upper side of the wings, but only of a mottled brown on
the under surface, somewhat resembling a dried and brown leaf, so that
it is no easy matter to detect the conspicuous, brightly-decked insect
when it alights from flight upon foliage, and brings its wings
together over its back after the manner of butterflies. At the
left-hand corner is seen the head of the insect, magnified, showing