462 MEANS OF DEFENCE OF INSECTS, 



species the excrement is not so disgusting as you may suppose, being 

 form'ed into fine branching filaments. This is the case with C. maculata 

 L.^ — In the cognate genus Imatidium, the larvae also are merdigerous ; 

 and that of /. Leayanum Latr., taken by Major-General Hardwicke in 

 the East Indies, also produces an assemblage of very long filaments, that 

 resemble a dried fucus or a filamentous lichen. The clothing of the Tinea, 

 clothes-moths, and others, and also of the case-worms, having enlarged 

 upon in a former letter, I need not describe here. 



Some insects, that they may not be discovered and become the prey of 

 their enemies when they are reposing, conceal themselves in flowers. 

 The male of a little bee (Heriades^ Campanularum) , a true Sybarite, 

 dozes voluptuously in the bells of the different species of Campanula — in 

 which, indeed, I have often found other kinds asleep. Linne named 

 another species Jlorisomnis on account of a similar propensity. A third, 

 a most curious and rare species (Andi-ena^ spinigera), shelters itself when 

 sleeping, at least I once found it there so circumstanced, in the nest-like 

 umbel of the wild carrot. You would think it a most extraordinary freak 

 of nature, should any quadruped sleep suspended by its jaws (some birds, 

 however, are said, I think, to have such a habit, and Sus Bahyroussa one 

 something like it), — yet insects do this occasionally. Linne informs us 

 that a little bee (Epeolus^ variegatus) passes the night thus suspended 

 to the beak of the flowers of Geranium phttum : and I once found one 

 of the vespiform bees (Nomada^ Goodeniana) hanging by its mandibles 

 from the edge of a hazel-leaf, apparently asleep, with its limbs -relaxed 

 and folded. On being disengaged from its situation it became perfectly 

 lively. 



There is no period of their existence in which insects usually are less 

 able to help themselves, than during that intermediate state of repose 

 which precedes their coming forth in their perfect forms. I formerly 

 explained to you how large a portion of them during this state cease to 

 be locomotive, and assume an appearance of death. In this helpless 

 condition, unless Providence had furnished them with some means of 

 security, they must fall an easy prey to the most insignificant of their 

 assailants. But even here they are taught to conceal themselves from 

 their enemies by various and singular contrivances. Some seek for safety 

 by burying themselves, previously to the assumption of the pupa, at a 

 considerable depth under the earth ; others bore into the heart of trees, or 

 into pieces of timber ; some take their residence in the hollow stalks of 

 plants : and many are concealed under leaves, or suspend themselves in 

 dark places, where they cannot readily be seen. But in this state they 

 are not only defended from harm by the situation they select, but also by 

 the covering in which numbers envelop themselves ; for, besides the 

 leathery case that defends the yet tender and unformed imago, many of 

 these animals know how to weave for it a costly shroud of the finest 

 materials, through which few of its enemies can make their way ; — and 

 to this curious instinct, as I long since observed, we owe one of the most 

 valuable articles of commerce, the silk that gives lustre to the beauty of 

 our females. These shrouds are sometimes double. Thus the larvae of 



» Kirby in Linn. Trans, iii. 10. * Apis. **. c. 2. y. K. ' Mtlitta. **. c K. 



« Apis. **. b. K. • Apis. b.*. K. 



