If you look under leaves in the summer, you might see what looks like a small leathery pouch. This is called a cocoon, and inside is the chrysalis. It is created by a caterpillar that wants to become a butterfly.

Before the chrysalis is formed, the caterpillar must make a silk-like mat. Then the caterpillar attaches its last pair of legs to the mat. The caterpillar lets go of the leaf and hangs there in a J-shape for about one full day.

Now, for the last time, the caterpillar will shed its skin. Underneath the skin is the chrysalis. When the skin is first shed, the chrysalis is very soft. After a while, though, the chrysalis becomes very hard, and the outer shell is called the cocoon.

Inside the chrysalis, a lot of changes are taking place. A mouth made for chewing leaves morphs into one that will sip nectar from a flower. A relatively flat back becomes a set of beautifully colored wings. And more....

It only takes about two weeks for this miracle to happen. Finally, with not an ounce of warning, a butterfly emerges from its cocoon. When it does, the butterfly is weak, small, wet, and cannot fly, but even as we stare in awe at this wonderful happening, the blood of a butterfly, called hemolymph, is being pumped through the fragile body. As the hemolymph flows, the body and wings of the butterfly become larger.

After about an hour, the butterfly is ready to fly. Sadly, all this work is only displayed for two weeks or less, for that is how long the average butterfly lives.

As I say good-bye, I ask all of you who like to hunt butterflies and try to kill them -- not to display in a lasting tribute but just for fun -- please, let this butterfly live its short but beautiful life.