After spending most of their metamorphosis at home, the Mourning Cloaks emerged today at school, right on schedule. Here they are in the classroom.


And outside.




Look at this hairy face. Considering how beautiful a butterfly is under most circumstances, this is not very attractive, is it?


When a butterfly emerges from its chrysalis, it excretes a waste product called meconium. And Mourning Cloaks excrete quite a bit. It looks like blood, which makes it a little creepy, but it's really harmless.

4 of the 9 butterflies flew away while we watched. We left the others on the table outside. I'm sure they're gone by now.