SOCIAL TENEMENTS. 101 



a moth in some years very common, called the " Brown-Tail."* 

 Instead of, like the " tent-makers," working by themselves, 

 and for their own exclusive accommodation, these are a 

 social race, and labour together at the formation of their nest 

 or hammock,t which is composed of greyish silk, and in form 

 irregular, either roundish or angular, according to its situation 

 either in an angle or at the extremity of a branch, the leaves 

 of which are drawn together and included within the walls. 

 The most careless of strollers must often have noticed, towards 

 autumn and through the winter, not only upon oaks, but also 

 upon beech, apple, and pear trees, and very frequently on the 

 rose, large web-like masses of silk, with leaves enclosed, and 

 these are the abodes of which we speak. This common 

 dwelling is partitioned within into chambers for one or for 

 several occupants, which communicate by doorways. When 

 the frosts commence, the silken walls, both outer and inner, are 

 thickened by new layers of tapestry, and thus snugly fortified, 

 their inmates, who are also wrapped in sleep, bid defiance to 

 the autumn gales and cutting blasts of winter. When invited 

 abroad by the genial breath of spring, and the tender leafy 

 provender which spring provides them, the members of this 

 luxurious community begin to make excursions from their 

 protecting tabernacle ; and on these occasions the leader 

 of the band always lays down for the succeeding steps of 



* Silken Hammock Weavers. Caterpillars of Brown Tail Moth (Portkesia 

 'a), and of Gold Tail, ditto. t Vignette. 



