The Butterfly Emerges

Saturday, August 24, 1996
The chrysalis has been getting transparent the past few days and we are
now able to see a little of the butterfly forming inside.



Sunday, August 25, 1996
The chrysalis is very dark this morning. The orange and black of the butterfly
are becoming easier and easier to see. After a few hours the orange and black
wing is very clear through the wall of the chrysalis. Soon the entire chrysalis is
black, except for the orange of the wings.



While we are watching, we see a little rip in the chrysalis and we can see
the butterfly's legs pushing outward. Within seconds he pulls his whole body
out of the paper-thin walls of the chrysalis.



Clutching the empty chrysalis, he hangs his body down below. His abdomen is
very large and fat; his wings are very small - about the size of postage stamps.
In just ten minutes the wings had grown to full size.



The butterfly hung like this for several hours, every once in a while spreading
its wings. Then it just quietly flew away.