114 TRANSFORMATIONS OF INSECTS. 



and the front pair have two transverse brown streaks upon them. 

 It appears in July, and is very fond of orchards. The female lays 

 her eggs in a very regular manner ; the eggs are very sticky, and 

 are deposited around small branches and twigs in little rings or 

 a series of bracelets one behind the other, so that when the lea^'es 

 have fallen, these symmetrical rows of egg-rings become very 

 visible, and then is the time to destroy them. As soon as they 

 escape from the eggs the little caterpillars unite in numerous sets 

 and envelope themselves in a silken web, which covers the leaves 

 and the small branches in their neighbourhood ; they remain 

 together until they have attained a considerable amount of 

 growth, and then they separate. They do a great deal of damage 

 to apple-trees. When fully grown the lackeys spin a nearly 

 transparent cocoon, and powder it well with a yellow sulphury 

 looking powder. 



It is evident, after reading the history of these species, which 

 are allied to each other, and which are all in the family of the 

 Bomhycidce, that there is something more than is usually admitted 

 in the philosophy of the first metamorphosis. Why should the 

 first kind have caterpillars which, on escaping from the t%^, go 

 into a state of lethargy during nine months, and then transform 

 themselves into a lethargic chrysalis } Why should the larvae 

 of the next kind eat and grow big, and then hide up all the 

 winter long, before becoming chrysalides .'' and why should those 

 of the last mentioned species pass in one season from the gor- 

 mandising caterpillar to the chrysalis state t 



The ordinary idea is that the chrysalis condition is a safe 

 refuge during the winter, when food cannot be obtained; but 

 why should not the first two kinds undergo this metamorphosis 

 at once, and without running all sorts of risks .-• The history of 

 the development of the insects which undergo these perfect 

 metamorphoses certainly receives a light from these considera- 

 tions, and it is evident that the popular idea is by no means 

 the correct one. 



A bombyx, which collects in great assemblages and has 

 peculiar habits, and often a miserable fate, is called the Proces- 

 sional caterpillar. The moth is rather small, and its grey wings, 

 which are very pale coloured in the female and crossed with 



