THE PSYCHES 



with a refuge in which they can play about and gather 

 strength before entering the wide world, the Psyche 

 strips herself of her fur like the mother Rabbit. 



This may possibly be done mechanically; it may be the 

 unintentional effect of rubbing repeatedly against the 

 low-roofed walls ; but there is nothing to tell us so. Even 

 the humblest mother has her foresight. It is quite likely 

 that the hairy Moth twists about, and goes to and fro in 

 the narrow passage, in order to get rid of her fleece and 

 prepare bedding for her family. 



I have read in books that the young Psyches begin life 

 by eating up their mother. I have seen nothing of the 

 sort, and I do not even understand how the idea arose. 

 Indeed, she has given up so much for her family that 

 there is nothing left of her but some thin, dry strips — not 

 enough to provide a meal for so numerous a brood. No, 

 my little Psyches, you do not eat your mother. In vain 

 do I watch you: never, either to clothe or to feed him- 

 self, does any one of you lay a tooth upon the remains of 

 the deceased. 



Ill 



A CLEVER TAILOR 



I will now describe in greater detail the dressing of 

 the grubs. 



[101] 



