THE CABBAGE-CATERPILLAR 307 



all adapted for flying. By virtue of this characteristic 

 and others no less important, she belongs to the order of 

 Hymenoptera.^ No matter: as our language possesses 

 no more precise term outside the scientific vocabulary, let 

 us use the expression Midge, which pretty well conveys 

 the general idea. Our Midge, the Microgaster, is the 

 size of an average Gnat. She measures 3 or 4 milli- 

 meters.^ The two sexes are equally numerous and wear 

 the same costume, a black uniform, all but the legs, which 

 are pale red. In spite of this likeness, they are easily 

 distinguished. The male has an abdomen which is 

 slightly flattened and, moreover, curved at the tip; the 

 female, before the laying, has hers full and perceptibly 

 distended by its ovular contents. This rapid sketch of 

 the insect should be enough for our purpose. 



If we w^ish to know the grub and especially to inform 

 ourselves of its manner of living, it is advisable to rear 

 in a cage a numerous herd of Cabbage-caterpillars. 

 Whereas a direct search on the cabbages in our garden 

 would give us but a difficult and uncertain harvest, by 

 this means we shall daily have as many as we wish before 

 our eyes. 



In the course of June, which is the time when the 

 caterpillars quit their pastures and go far afield to settle 

 on some wall or other, those in my fold, finding nothing 

 better, climb to the dome of the cage to make their 

 preparations and to spin a supporting network for the 



1 This order includes the Ichneumon-flies, of whom the Micro- 

 gaster is one. — Translator's Note. 

 ^.117 to .156 inch. — Translator's Note. 



