188 NATURAL HISTORY. j^CH. X. 



ened out ; by the time the egg is expressed, and the 

 body of the insect withdrawn from it, it is found 

 attached to a thread formed of glutinous matter 

 which now, being dry, is capable of supporting the 

 egg. In due time the worm pierces its aerial habi- 

 tation, descends upon the leaf, and finds itself in the 

 midst of a colony of aphides, which it instantly 

 attacks. The obvious use of these stalks appears 

 to be to preserve the egg from being covered or in- 

 jured by the aphides But whether this be the true 

 explanation is uncertain. 



The larva of another kind of hemerobius clothes 

 itself in an artificial manner, and for this purpose 

 uses the skins of those unfortunate plant-lice which 

 it had previously sucked. Indeed it piles up such a 

 quantity of them on its back, as to look as if it car- 

 ried a little mountain. This ostentatious exhibi 

 tion of its trophies does not appear to arise from any 

 sentiment of vainglory; for when Reaumur re- 

 moved these skins, the insect clothed itself with the 

 fragments of its cocoon ; and on this coat too being 

 taken away, an abundant supply of paper-shavings 

 was placed within its reach : " Never," says Reau- 

 mur, " was so much convenient matter placed at the 

 disposal of any insect of this kind ; and accordingly 

 a thicker, more complete, and a higher vest was 

 never borne, perhaps, by any other little lion." 



The structure of the covering thus formed is rude 

 enough. The parts adhere for the same reason that 

 shreds of any thing adhere to one another. The 

 insect, however, places them on its back with much 

 address ; it lays hold of the material or skin between 

 its horias, so that it rests on its head ; it then gives 

 a toss, and pitches it to the desired spot ; if not suc- 

 cessful, a few contortions of its body bring it right. 

 The reason of this anxiety to invest their bodies 

 with such a strange covering appears to be to de- 

 ceive the birds, which consider them as dainties — 

 at least this is M. Dumeril's opinion. It is more 



