a sight which fills the observer with amazement; the embryo caterpillar is seen in gradual course of formation, and if patience and warmth have permitted it, the observer will witness slight movements within the life-case, and presently the shell will break and a black head with moving jaws will be thrust out; the little caterpillar unfolds and slowly crawls away from the egg-shell, and inserts its jaws into the green leaf.  It is curious to witness how judiciously the little creatures avoid crowding together, but strike out in different directions, and thus they make sure of a plentiful supply of food, and distribute the effects of their depredations.  These caterpillars eat continually, and hence rapidly increase in size, until they present the appearance shown in our drawing at the bottom of the illustration, which is a full grown caterpillar.

[Illustration:  THE CABBAGE AND PEACOCK BUTTERFLIES.]

It will be observed that this insect is composed of thirteen segments from head to tail, which is a distinctive characteristic of all insects both in the larval and perfect states; but in the case of this and most other caterpillars these segments are sharply defined and readily recognized.  It will also be noticed that the three segments or “joints” nearest the head bear a pair of legs each; these are the real feet, or claspers, as they are sometimes termed, which develop into the feet of the future butterfly.  There are four pairs of false feet or suckers, which adhere to the ground by suction, and which disappear in the butterfly.  On the last or tail end is a fifth pair of suckers also, which can attach themselves to a surface with considerable force, as any one can attest who has noticed the wrigglings of one of these caterpillars when feeling for new feeding ground.

The caterpillar now ceases to eat, and quietly betakes itself to a secluded corner, where in peace it spins a web around its body, and wrapt therein remains quiescent, awaiting its change into the butterfly.  Although so dormant outwardly, activity reigns inside; processes are going on within that chrysalis-case which are the amazement and the puzzle of all naturalists.  In course of time the worm is changed into the beautiful winged butterfly, which breaks its 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 antennae, 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.