The Caddis-Worm 



distant materials and to give the worker a 

 firm footing when measuring a piece and cut- 

 ting it with the pliers. Lastly, the hind-legs, 

 of medium length, afford a support when the 

 others are busy. 



The Caddis-worm, I was saying, with the 

 piece which it has removed held crosswise 

 to its chest, retreats a little way along its sus- 

 pensory hammock until the spinneret is level 

 with the support furnished by the close tangle 

 of rootlets. With a quick movement, it shifts 

 its burden, gets it as nearly by the middle as 

 it can, so that the two ends stick out equally 

 on either side, and chooses the spot to place it, 

 whereupon the spinneret sets to work at once, 

 while the little fore-legs hold the scrap of root 

 motionless in its transversal position. The 

 soldering is effected with a touch of silk in the 

 middle of the bit and along a certain distance 

 to the right and left, as far as the bending of the 

 head permits. 



Without delay, other sticks are speared in 

 like manner at a distance, cut off and placed 

 in position. As the immediate neighbour- 

 hood is stripped, the material is gathered at 

 a yet greater distance and the Caddis-worm 

 bends even farther from its support, which 



now holds only its last few segments. It is a 

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