Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-07-07

In neralappearance caterpillars differ,
but all are more or less cylindrical, and
usually the body is composed of twelve
and is run by from twelve to
sixteen legs. Each seems to have twelve
small eyes, but it is extremely doubtful
whether it has the power of vision.
All are not silk worms. but those that
are have two long and slender bags inside
their bodies, ending in spinning tube
which contains the matter of which 'ilk is
made. The silk "stuff" is n sticky fluid
which flows from the spinners in fine
stream and is hardened into thread ms it
comes in contact with the air
Both the silk worm and the apple tree
caterpillars are good spinners. The latter
weave their own nests on the tree, when
they congregatc for social and practical
purposes. Some pass their lives in soll-
tude, either exposed to the light and air or
sheltered in leaves folded over their
bodies, or in silken sheaths which they
form for themselves. Some others live
in folds of plants, or in the pulpy sub
stance Of leaves or conceal themselves in
the ground. where they remain, except
when in search of food
Caterpillars shed their skins four times
before they attain full growth. After a
while they leave off eating, spin their
shroud, and lay themselves down to under
90 their first transformation. Some, how
ever, do not take the trouble to construct a
case for their bodies, but hang themselves
up by II thread, or GO into the ground, to
undergo their change. In due time the
cocoon bursts in the back, and there comes
out. not caterpillar, but chrysalis
which is shorter than the worm, and ap'
parently without head or limbs. In this
state the insect takes no food, but ere long
it begins to swell and tbs skin is rent on
the back and out comes perfect butterfly
or moth, as the case may be.
This is one of the complete transforma'
tons in the insect world, and must be re-
garded as one of the most remarkable facts
in nature. From beautiful butterfly
comes an egg that matches vile worm
and from the worm, in turn, is born g
beautiful butterfly! These two creatures
are totally unlike, not only in external ap
pearance, but in internal structure. Boil
the mouth and the digestive organs have
undergone a total change. The butterfly
cannot subsst upon the gross alimen
which the caterpillar fed upon. A slender
tongue has taken the place of powerful
jaws, and the stomach of the butterfly il
capable of digesting only liquid substances
And here is another interesting fact
the disgusting and destructive worn be
comes beautiful and harmless insect tina
spends the remnant of his short life il
fitting from flower to flower, and bathin!
itself in the sunlight and gentle breezes o
IIcaYen.
The mission of the butterfly, after all, i
evil, for it refuses to die until it has lai'
its eggs for II new brood of caterpillars
and then it seems to die in peace. VIII.
should it not? 1t has served its time an,
its purpose; acted out its nature and don'
some evil and some good, like other NOR
tails. For the evil it has done il mus
not be held responsible; for who dare
say that caterpillar has not right to
living, even if he does interfere with man