THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 113 



and falls behind, as the perch lengthens. Now the object for which this 

 packet is made, with all this labor, is yet unknown. These larvce, when 

 of the hibernating brood, in fall, make to themselves a close fitting jacket 

 out of the leaf, snipping away here and there all superfluous parts till the 

 pattern is cut out. Then the sides are drawn together by spun threads 

 and held fast, and the whole interior is covered with a coating of silk. 

 Moreover, the larva provides against the fall of its hibernaculum, by care- 

 fully weaving threads from leaf to stem and around the stem, so that the 

 winds and storms of winter cannot possibly tear the case away. Now, the 

 larvae of the summer broods do not make any such cases, there being no 

 need of them. Of all our larvae, those of Limenitis show most of what 

 in human beings would be called intelligence, working for a definite end, 

 and varying their contrivances according to circumstances. Compared 

 with them the larvae of Argynnis, and Danais, and most other families are 

 stupid. Paphia Astya?iax, makes for itself a hibernaculum a good deal 

 like that of Limenitis, but I have never had an opportunity of observing 

 that species, and can give no description of its habits at work. Almost 

 as intelligent as these case-makers, are some of the tent-makers, as Melitaea 

 Phaeton, whose work is most finished of all its class. The eggs are laid in 

 clusters of one hundred to three or four hundred, and the larvae as soon as 

 hatched knot their leaf into a nest the size of a small filbert. In course of 

 the next two or three days they make a common web, taking in any leaf that 

 lies convenient. As they grow they enlarge the web, all working for the 

 common good. Especially, as each moult approaches, all wanderers come 

 home, and the web is made tight, and into it they retire and pass the 

 moult. Which over, the web is extended again ; and so on, till finally when 

 the third moult approaches, the web is often as large as a man's open hand 

 made of closely woven silk, two and three coats of it, capable of resisting 

 storms and all the wear and tear of winter. Up to this time a few holes 

 have been left for egress, but at last these are closed up from the inside, 

 and the larvae are seen no more that year or after the third moult. If at 

 any time from the hatching the web is injured by storms, the caterpillars 

 forthwith set at work repairing, and do not rest, whether it rains or shines, 

 till the work is done. And they have a prevision of storms and all hands 

 may be seen working at their dwelling industriously, strengthening it here 

 and there, even when the sky is clear, and there appears no reason for 

 work. The food-plant is always in swampy places, often half under water, 

 and the webs are beaten down by snow and rain, but the inhabitants get 



