Digging for Pupæ.--Dick Carleton.--Metamorphoses of Butterfly.
About two miles further inland from Mr. Merivale's and in the midst of a
fine and well-wooded country, was Sir Richard Carleton's house. Around
it was a park with larger timber trees than were to be found in the rest
of the countryside. Mary and Florence Merivale had fixed on this spot as
the scene of their labours in the cause of science, as represented by
the collections of their brother and Jimmy Brett. Leaving the path,
they trespassed boldly in search of suitable trees for their purpose.
Frank had told them that the vicinity of houses was the best, because
moths, in all probability attracted by the lights, laid their eggs on
trees and shrubs near houses. So the two girls went up as near the large
house as they thought they might venture without being seen, and
commenced their search.
A tall youth strolling languidly down a path through the woods saw two
kneeling figures in red cloaks at the foot of a large willow-tree, and
their movements aroused his curiosity, and while he stands looking at
them let us say what manner of boy Dick Carleton is. He is very tall and
thin, but he has a figure that only wants filling out to be handsome. He
has a very beautiful face and head, and curly brown hair. His large dark
eyes and pale complexion make him look more delicate than he really is,
but he is afflicted with a listless melancholy that shows itself in
every movement. It was this melancholy which had aroused his father's
fears, and it was plain that if it were not checked in time grave
results might follow. He stood for some time looking at the two girls,
wishing to ask what they were doing, but too shy to do so. At last Mary
caught sight of him, and rising, she said--
"I hope we are not trespassing?"
"You are trespassing, but it does not matter," replied Dick, taking off
his hat. "But may I ask what you are doing?"
"We are digging for pupæ," answered Mary.
"And what are pupæ?"
"Don't you know?" asked Mary in surprise.
"No."
"Why they come into moths. The moth lays its egg, the eggs turn into
caterpillars, which feed on leaves and trees, and then turn into these
things," and she then showed him five or six large red cylindrical
objects which she had in her basket. "When the spring comes these will
turn into moths."
"How wonderful," said Dick. "I did not know that before; but if the
caterpillars feed on leaves, how is it that you dig those from the
ground?"
"The caterpillars of some moths go into the earth before they change
into the pupæ state. I do not know why: I suppose they think it safer."
"Where did you learn all this?" said Dick, his eyes lighting up with a
new life and interest at this first glimpse of what was to him a new and
strange world.
"From my brother Frank and Jimmy Brett. They are making collections, and
we are helping them as much as we can. My brother is Frank Merivale, and
I am Mary Merivale."
"And my name is Carleton; but please tell me more about these things.
Will they turn into white butterflies?"
"They won't turn into butterflies at all, but into moths, great ugly
things with thick bodies; only Frank and Jimmy like them."
[Illustration: METAMORPHOSES OF BUTTERFLY.]
"I should like to find some if you will show me how to dig for them. I
suppose if I keep them they will turn into moths some time."
[Illustration: THE PARK IN SUMMER.]
"Yes; put them into a flower-pot full of mould and keep it rather damp,
and put something over so that the moths sha'n't fly away, and in the
spring they will come out; but it is prettiest to see butterflies come
out. They split open the chrysalis at the back of its neck and creep
out, but their wings are all shrivelled up to nothing, and they climb up
the side of the box, and then their wings spread out, and get so large
and beautiful! I could find you plenty of the chrysalides of the
white butterflies by your greenhouses, but if you want moths, take this
trowel and dig around the other side of this tree about three inches
from it and three inches deep. They do not breed on all trees; we have
tried five to-day and found nothing, but at this one we have got
twelve."
More amused and interested than he had ever been before, Dick knelt down
and began to dig. Very soon he found a large chrysalis, and, encouraged
by this success, he dug more vigorously, and very soon he had found
five, while the girls had increased their spoils to sixteen.
"Now, Miss Merivale, will you come to the greenhouses and show me how to
get some butterfly chrysalides? I shall be very glad if you will, and I
should like to introduce you to my father, and I will ask him to ask
your brother here, then he could tell me more about these things."
[Illustration: WHITE HAWTHORN BUTTERFLY.]
Mary hesitated, but Florrie said, "Oh, do go, Mary;" so she consented,
and they walked up through the gardens, and Mary showed Dick where to
look for the chrysalides of the common white butterfly, which are to be
found through the winter attached by a silken thread to the sheltered
sides of walls, and under the coping of greenhouses and buildings near
the gardens where the caterpillars have fed on the lettuces and
cabbages.
Sir Richard Carleton was in one of the conservatories, and seeing him,
Dick cried out--
"Father, these red things will turn into moths, and these greenish-white
ones into butterflies."
"Yes, Dick, I know they will."
"But you never told me so before, father."
"Well, my boy, I never thought it would interest you, but I am very glad
it does interest you. This is Mary Merivale, I think. How do you do, my
dears? Come into the library all of you, and I will show you some books
on butterflies."
They went into the house and had some tea and cake, and turned over the
pages of a book on entomology with coloured plates, which had lain dusty
and forgotten on the shelves until now, and Mary and her sister pointed
out to Dick moths and butterflies which their brother and Jimmy had in
their collection.
Sir Richard saw with delight that the right chord had been touched in
his son's mind, and he no longer doubted the success of the experiment
he had urged Mr. Merivale to try.
The time slipped rapidly away, and when it was high time to go, Mary and
Florrie were driven home by Sir Richard's groom, charmed with their
visit, and full of praises of Sir Richard and his son.
Dick Carleton was eager to know more of entomology, and set to work at
once to read about it with an energy he had never displayed for anything
before, and the father wrote off to his booksellers to order a newer and
more reliable book upon the science than the one he possessed, to be
given to Dick.