IIOUSEKfiJEPING IN A BASKET. 



389 



"I have seen specimens that had dropped froni the 

 trees hanging by a thread and squiriuiug, bending and 

 snapping their bodies in the 

 oddest wa3's, while the case 

 spun around like an old- 

 fashioned distaff, which in- 

 deed it resembles. Now, 

 when the caterpillar wants 

 to feed it sti'etches out its 

 head and neck, and moves 

 them about until a satis- 

 factory point has been se- 

 cured. This it clasps with 

 its pro-legs, which are hard, 

 conical organs provided 

 with sharp claws, and pulls 

 up its body as you see at 

 this figure (Fig. 121), and 

 begins to spin. The spin- 

 ning organs are near the 

 mouth, and after several 

 motions of the head, as 

 though smearing the liquid 

 viscid silk, the head is 

 drawn back, thus drawing 

 out a short thread. A simi- 

 lar movement is then made 

 against one side of the 



mouth of the sac. This process is repeated several 

 times until a stout stay-line is spun by which the 



FIG. 12o. — FEEDING ON 

 FINE. 



