B0U8EKEEFING Z/V A BASKET. 891 



in two. I come now to the mode of attaching the leaf- 

 cuttings to the case. So far as I have observed, this 

 is always done at or near the mouth of the sac ; at 

 least I never saw a worm stretch its mouth backward 

 and downward to sew a patch to the lower part of 

 its case." 



" But how do they get there ? See here !" exclaimed 

 Abby, "the leaves and chips are scattered all along 

 the basket, from top to bottom. The caterpillar must 

 have reached down to these points in order to fasten 

 them there." 



Abby's opinion evidently had a unanimous verdict of 

 approval from the members of the circle who were care- 

 fully examining the baskets. I was therefore bound to 

 defend my assertion. 



"You forget, I think, that the Ephemeraform larva 

 is a growing creature, unlike the moth itself, which 

 emerges a perfect insect of full growth. It begins as a 

 small worm, eats small quantities, and, as you may ob- 

 serve, down here toward the foot of the case sews on 

 very small tags. But after it has fastened on these 

 pieces — to the mouth, remember — it grows itself, and 

 so also does the case, which it continually stretches and 

 enlarges. You can easily see, therefore, that the 

 mouth of the case is continually changing, moving up- 

 ward as the worm feeds, just as does the opening of 

 Aunt Hannah's stocking as she knits. The pieces 

 sewed upon the cap of the case thus appear, in an adult 

 caterpillar, precisely as they are here, scattered along 

 the outside from top to bottom. Is that clear to you ?" 



