898 TENANTS OF AN OLD FARM. 



his hands after backhig inside of it. When the worm 

 rests from feeding it proceeds in this way, and sews the 

 mouth up securely. It will often hang thus during much 

 of the day time, and in the cool of the evening come out 

 to eat, I have seen the branches of an arbor vitte tree 

 fairly astir with the number of basket-worms that come 

 out at nightfall to feed. Of course the exit is easy, for 

 they have only to cut the inner fastenings with their 

 sharp teeth. 



"When the larva is about to become a pupa it shuts 

 up the case in the last way described, casts off its last 

 larval skin, and, without making any other cocoon, 

 awaits its transformation. 



"Do both sexes have the same bag or basket - 

 making habit ?" asked Hugh. 



" Yes ; but here comes in another remarkable fact in 

 the life-history of our insect. Like the Orgyia, of 

 which 3-0U have already learned, the female of Ephe- 

 meraform is wingless. Indeed, if you examine the 

 specimen you will notice that she has the merest 

 apologies for legs and antennae — in fact, closely 

 resembles her larva. A more helpless creature it 

 would be hard to find ; and so, like the discreet matron 

 of Scripture, she is a "keeper at home," though, for 

 that matter, there is nothing else for her to do. She 

 never leaves her case, not even to receive her wooers, 

 who must seek her inside her own house." 



"How, then, pray, does she ever find a mate?" 

 asked the Mistress. 



" Ah ! she is a thorough model of maidcnl}- mod- 



