PUSS CATERPILLAR. 89 



little of the crawling worm about them, that one can hardly 

 help regarding them almost as creatures sui generis. Speci- 

 mens of these may be found, next month,, upon the poplar, 

 lime, and privet. 



But foremost of our favourites, among their kind, are those 

 wonders of the willow, the gaudy caterpillars of the puss 

 moth,* which sitting up so demurely on their boughs look, 

 even more than the sphinxes, like animals which " stand" as well 

 as sit "alone."t After having watched and tended one of these 

 singular creatures from its tiny kittenhood (and then very like 

 a kitten is it) up to the period of its caterpillar growth, we 

 have really missed it from its 'customed seat a perch of 

 willow stretched across its box ; and whereon, when nearly 

 arrived at its bulky maturity, we have often upheld its painted 

 body, while, with head protruded from its hood-like shoulders, 

 it has set busily to work upon a fresh supply of leafy 

 provender. 



Now only let some of those, who laugh at the idea of fond- 

 ness for a caterpillar, ask themselves if they have never felt 

 fondness for that whereon a caterpillar feeds for a plant we 

 mean that peculiar liking, distinct from general, which we are 

 apt to entertain for a favourite plant of our own. To tend 

 on anything day by day to minister to its benefit for that 

 thing to depend on us for life though perfectly unconscious 

 of such dependance is enough, it can hardly be disputed, 



* Cimra vinula. f See vignette to " A Summer's Day's Dream." 



