The Butterfly

Last surnraer I uoticcd a roilkweed attrpillar tvaveling across the piazza 'floor, evidently in eearch of his final shelter. "We securcd him temporarily ■nnder a tumbler, bnt there, to our surprise, he proceeued to spin his little web and hang himselí head downward frora the bottom of the co-vering glass In sueh wise tliat. in the conrse of two days we saw the whole prooess of change, ven to the splitting of the Caterpillar skin and the final wriggle from it that ohauged him into the most exquisito transparent, nile green chrysalis, buttoned with gold. Towardthe end of two ■weeks this began to grow opaque, and gradnally we saw from under it the ihorax, antennae, head, wings and abdominal rings in perfect coloring of Islack and red. One fine morning "he burst this outer shell of sin and hatched himself," not "a cherubim," but a more tangible aerial creature, though not able to float off at once, as perhaps even cherubim do not. No; his wings ■wero only as big as dime pieces. "And still the wonder grew" as we watched ihem grow and unfold under our eyes in breathless amazeinent, and one at least in reverence and awe. It seemed snch a definite change from death into life. It was not so difficult then to imagine a soul freed from its mortal enTelope since this marvel could be done. The little creature, after expanding 1so its full size, became very sociable, liking to be held on the finger, and after I had once uurolled his proboscis with a pin and guided it to a drop of sugared water quickly learned to flnd his food and sucked up a drop "in no time." After a few days he fioated out of a earelessly opened window, and I was glad and sympathized, for I, too, longed to try my wings beyond four walls. Milkweed caterpillars are common i enough (Danais Archippus, I believe, but cannot verify), and it is a most ihiirminc and Rxcitina exneriment,