156 INSECT ARCHITECTURE. 



the perfect leaf, leaving intervals all round, between the 

 piece and leaf, at which it may project its head. The 

 piece which it has fixed serves as a model for cutting out 

 a similar piece in the other leaf. The caterpillar puts 

 them accurately together, except at one end of the oval, 

 where an opening is left for the insect to project its head 

 through. When the caterpillar is inclined to change its 

 situation, it draws itself forward by means of its scaly 

 limbs, riveted upon the leaf. The membranous limbs, 

 which are riveted against the inner sides of the tent, 

 oblige it to follow the anterior part of the body, as it 

 advances. The caterpillar, also, puts its head out of the 

 tent every time it desires to eat. 



There is found on the common chickweed (Stellaria 

 media), towards the ends of July, a middle-sized smooth 

 green caterpillar, having three brown spots bordered with 

 white on the back, and six legs and ten pro-legs, whose 

 architecture is worthy of observation. When it is about 

 to go into chrysalis, towards the beginning of August, it 

 gnaws oif, one by one, a number of the leaves and smaller 

 twigs of the chickweed, and adjusts them into an oval 

 cocoon, somewhat rough and unfinished externally, but 

 smooth, uniform, and finely tapestried with white silk 

 within. Here it undergoes its transformation securely, 

 and, when the period of its pupa trance has expired in the 

 following July, it makes its exit in the form of a yellowish 

 moth, with several brown spots above, and a brown band 

 on each of ils four wings below. It is also furnished with 

 a sort of tail. 



On the cypress-spurge (EaphorUa cr/parissias), a native 

 woodland plant, but not of very common occurrence, may 

 be found, towards the end of October, a caterpillar of a 

 middle size, sparely tufted with hair, and striped with 

 black, white, red, and brown. The leaves of the plant, 

 which are in the form of short narrow blades of grass, are 

 made choice of by the caterpillar to construct its cocoon, 

 which it does with great neatness and regularity, the end 

 of each leaf, after it has been detached from the plant, 

 being fixed to the stem, and the other leaves placed parallel, 



