Introductory Chapter, 7 



by silk-like threads, and use mucli ingenuity in so 

 doing. 



Many caterpillars are smooth, others rough and hairy. 

 The hairy specimens vary much, the hair of some being 

 soft, long, and silky, others having short stubby spikes 

 rather than hairs sparsely dispersed over the body. 

 The hairy species (the Rufescens moth caterpillar being 

 one) use their hairy coats as a slight cocoon, and the 

 hairy coat also, it is said, serves as a protection from 

 birds \ at the same time the hairs cause great irritation 

 to the human skin if the caterpillars are handled too 

 freely. The acrid taste of some also protects them 

 from feathered enemies. When the insect has remained 

 in the pupa state for a sufl3.cient length of time, which 

 varies according to species from a couple of weeks to a 

 few months, the process of throwing off its skin is 

 quickly performed. "Weather has much influence on 

 the period during which the pupa lies dormant. The 

 Teneriffe winter of 1892-93 was particularly warm, and 

 all specimens emerged to the butterfly stage somewhat 

 earlier than usual. 



A few days before the butterfly or moth appears, the 



