The Butterflies of the British Isles

PART I.

THE LIFE CYCLE OF A BUTTERFLY.

As is the case with all other Lepidoptera, butterflies pass through three very distinct stages before they attain the perfect form. These stages are:--1. The egg (_ovum_, plural _ova_). 2. The caterpillar (_larva_, _larvæ_). 3. The chrysalis (_pupa_, _pupæ_). The perfect insect is called the _imago_ (plural _imagines_).

The Egg.