94 



INSECT TRANSFORMATIONS. 



similar spiders' nests attached to the stems of g'rass *; 

 and we once found a large one of an elongated 

 shape, and composed of very white silk, on a spike of 

 grass at Compton-Basset, VViltshiref. 



Spiders' nests. 



The vapoiirer {Orgyia antiqua, Ochsenh.), a com- 

 mon moth, takes advantage of the warm silken enve- 

 lope of the pupa-case, from which she has escaped a 

 few days before, to form a bed for her eggs. In our 

 earlier studies of insect economy we were inclined to 

 ascribe to accident the deposition of the eggs in this 

 particular situation, but we have found so many 

 instances of it as to reject the explanation. Swam- 

 merdam also observes, that " this custom of fastening 

 the eggs to the web is a constant method, and 

 by the immutable law of nature, is so peculiar 

 to this species of insects, that I have never ob- 

 served it in any other kind whatsoever. This 

 female," he subjoins, " like a most prudent house- 

 wife, never leaves her habitation, but is always 

 fixing her egg^ to the surface of the web out of 

 which she has herself crept, thus affording a beau- 

 tiful instance of industrious housewifery J." One 



* De Geer, Mem. vol.vii. pp. 227-9. f J. R. 



X Swammerdaui> ;it. ii. p;ige 7. 



