88 TENANTS OF AN OLD FARM. 



set myself to watch it. It wandered about for half a 

 day before it began operations. At last, having pitched 

 upon a proper site, it cut out a filament very near the 

 cloth, in order, I suppose, to have it as long as possible, 

 and placed it on a line with its body. It then immedi- 

 ately cut another, and placing it parallel with the first, 

 bound both together with a few threads of its own siik. 

 The same process was repeated with other hairs, till 

 the little creature had made a fabric of some thickness, 

 and this it went on to extend till it was large enough to 

 cover its body. Its body, by-the-way, as is usual with 

 caterpillars, is employed as a model and measure for 

 regulating its operations." 



" That's a vei-y human trait," said the Mistress ; "my 

 mother invariably used part of her body as a yard- 

 stick, measuring light material with outstretched arms, 

 or with one full-length arm, counting from chin to 

 fingers." 



"Mother Bond does that still,'' ventured Harry. 



'• Ah, well," I said, " i)i'rhaps by-and-by we may find 

 some starting-points for a bond of sympathy between 

 the ladies and even a clothes-moth ! But to proceed. 

 My caterpillar made choice of longer hairs for the out- 

 side than for the inside, and the covering was at last 

 finished within by a fine and closely woven tapestry of 

 silk. I could only see the progress of its work by look- 

 ing' into the o]iening at eitlier of the ends, for the cov- 

 ering was quite opaque and concealed the larva. In 

 weaving this lining the creature turns around by 

 doubling itself and bringing its head where the tail bad 



