104 WOBK AT HOME AND IN THE EIELD 



veins, so straight and so still that they are scarcely perceptible. 

 Others are snugly tucked in a depression of a leaf with the same 

 result. Then we must also be prepared for the artful little tricks 

 of the larvae of Geometius (p. 268), by which they imitate stalks 

 and twigs so closely that a sharp eye is necessary to discriminate 

 between the two. 



While thus searching we may meet with the cast skin of a cater- 

 pillar. This gives us fresh hopes, and so we continue our careful 

 examination. At last, on grasping a leaf in order to turn it over for 

 inspection, we feel something hairy or something soft and smooth. 

 But lo ! it is gone. It is one of those numerous caterpillars that 

 feign death and di'Oj) to the ground on the slightest sign of danger. 

 We search below for it, but the density of the vegetation renders 

 this hope^-ess, and we are just about to start off in search of a more 

 productive locality when we espy a quantity of the excrement of 

 larvae lying on a little bare patch of ground close l)y. This gives 

 us a new idea. Here is another indication of the presence of the 

 creatures we require, one that we can put into practice ; and by- 

 and-by we learn that in many cases this is really the surest sign 

 of their whereabouts. 



We look at these little pellets of excrement, and gain at once 

 some idea of the si^e of the larvae that produce them. Then we 

 observe whether they are fresh and moist, or dry and stale. If the 

 latter, it is not of much xise to examine the leaves above ; but if 

 otherwise, there is little doubt of our meeting with larvae, as the 

 present position they oecupj' is so truly marked. The leaves just 

 over them are carefully examined, either by turning them over as 

 before described, or, if the height of the foliage admits of it, 

 by placing our heads below and looking upward. 



If we find that the larvae are some of those that endeavour to 

 escape by feigning death and allowing themselves to drop at the 

 slightest disturbance, the net is always kept beneath the leaves we 

 are touching in order to intercept them in their downward journey. 



Continuing the search, we meet with leaves that are rolled up 

 and bound with silk threads, and others that are drawn together 

 and similarly bound. These are carefully uncurled and pulled 

 asunder with the result that active little larvae are exposed to view, 

 or, it may be, pupae' are discovered. In some cases flowers are 

 drawn together in just the same way, and an examination reveals 

 one or more of the species that prefer petals and other parts of 

 flowers to the green leaves. 



