622 C. B. HARDENBERG. 



caterpillar does not live exposed, but is concealed in a bag of 

 its own manufacture, which it carries about with it. The 

 popular names in other countries, "Basket worms" of the 

 Americans, "BichodeCesto" of the Spanish, "Sacktra- 

 ger" of the Germans, all have reference to this same curious 

 habit ; the last-mentioned name being more nearly correct as it 

 actualW indicates that the bag is being carried about. But 

 the name which most accurately expresses the condition is 

 that given to these insects by the Zulus, "u-Mahambanen- 

 dhlwana," meaning a creature which carries its house 

 with it. 



When the larva hatches from the egg, its first care, before 

 starting to feed, is to construct its little house. This is done 

 by gnawing small pieces of leaf or other substance on which 

 it happens to be, and weaving these together with silk spun 

 from its mouth into a collar which is fastened around the 

 neck. To this successive rings are added until the creature 

 is entirely encased in a conical bag, narrowest at its posterior 

 end, and into which it can entirely withdraw when danger 

 threatens. This silken casing is added to as the larva grows; 

 and, as feeding progresses, little bits of the food-plant are 

 attached to the casing. This is done in various ways, charac- 

 teristic for each species. 



The formation of the first bag may take place before the 

 distribution of the larvte occurs or afterwards, but in any case 

 before the larva starts feeding. 



The adornment of the tube as a rule proceeds gradually as 

 the caterpillar feeds and grows, but we have reason to think 

 that in some species, such as Fumea obscurata Meyr. and 

 Melasina picea Meyr., for instance, this does not happen 

 until the larva has become fully grown and makes ready for 

 pupation. 



As these various adornments are in nearly all cases parts of 

 the food-plant, it follows that the same species of bagworm 

 mav bear different aspects according to the plant on which 

 the caterpillar has been feeding. But the method of the 

 attachment is always the same for a given species, no matter 



