TAILORS 189 



lower seams of the case which it previously, with 

 such pains, sewed together, and lets in a width of 

 silk. When the case again needs widening, this 

 width of silk is cut down the centre and another 

 width added. 



" By these additions this species thus continues 

 the size of its case till the autumn sets in. The 

 case is now about one-tenth of an inch long. The 

 larva then prepares for hibernation. It crawls off 

 the leaf and fastens its case very firmly to a twig 

 of its food-plant, as if it knew that, did it remain 

 on the leaves, it would fall to the ground and 

 might be blown far away. The site usually chosen 

 is the space found in the angle between the bark 

 of the twig and the next year's leaf-bud. Wedged 

 closely down in this situation, the minute larva, 

 secure in its self-made dwelling, braves the autumnal 

 gales and the winter's cold without any further 

 protection." 



When in spring the new leaves expand the larva 

 loosens its hold, and travels to a chosen leaf where 

 it begins to feed again, and in due course enlarges 

 its case. In the spring the human tailor has a 

 rush of work because the spring sunshine makes 

 the clothes of his customers appear shabby and 

 they call for a new suit. Whether similar emo- 

 tions stir fuscidinella to action has not at present 

 been determined by investigators ; but Mr. Sich 

 tells us that — 



" In May, when the larva has grown considerably, 

 something impels it to abandon its old case and 



