The Texture of some is very thick and close.
Others are thin, like Gause, insomuch that the Chrysalis may be seen thorough them.
Some Aureliæ are white, some yellow, and others of different Hues; and most of the hairy Caterpillars intermix their Hair amongst the Spinning.
Some Caterpillars form a hard-crusted Case, composed of silk Threads glewed together, in such Manner as to become hard like an Egg-shell, so that when the Fly comes out, a round Hole like a Door appears.
The Silk-spinning Caterpillars are of various Kinds, and deposit their Aureliæ in different Places, and in different Manners, viz. some fasten them on the Leaves and Stalks of Plants, without any Covering; others spin the Leaves over them; others lodge them in Holes and Crevices; and others in the Earth.
Many of the Moth-Kind place their Chrysalis in the Earth, about an Inch or two deep, surrounding it with a Case of Earth lined with a glutenous Matter, that no Wet can penetrate: And what is very surprizing, notwithstanding the extreme Delicacy and Tenderness of the Fly when first bred, be the Ground never so hard, it makes its way thorough it without ruffling a single Feather.
Few, if any, of the Butterfly-Kind form a Case or Spinning, except what fastens the Tail and Body of the Chrysalis. Some hang perpendicularly downwards, and others in an horizontal Position, being fastened by the Tail, with a Thread round the Back and on each Side. Some are secured within the Leaves spun together; others are hid in the Hollows and Barks of Trees; and others again under the Copings of Walls, in Houses, Sheds, &c.
Of the FLY.
After the Chrysalis has remained its due Time, the Fly bursts the Shell wherein it was contained, and comes out formed perfectly in every Part, except the Wings, which then appear too small to cover its Body. In this naked Condition it crawls up to some convenient Place, where its Wings may hang down without any Hindrance: And when thus disposed, the Wings begin to expand themselves so much, that in the Space of half an Hour, the Wings (of Butterflies) are stretched commonly to their full Size; nay, even those of the largest Moths seldom require above an Hour’s Time. At first they are flabby, like wet Paper, but soon afterwards they become stiff, and capable of supporting them in their Airy Flights, &c.
In this Fly State their first Care seems to be the Propagation of their Species, for some of them will copulate immediately if they can find a Mate; to seek which the Male Butterfly takes Wing, as soon as his Wings are in a proper Condition: But few Moths, whether bred in the Night Time or in the Day, ever offer to fly till the Night after their Birth, when they go in Search of the Females.