698 THE BUTTERFLIES OF NEW ENGLAND. 



leaves, generally near the middle, always reaching the midrib. Before their 

 first moult, however, and indeed within about twenty-four hours of their 

 birth, their manner of life changes. They no longer feed on an open 

 web, but bend the leaf upon itself into a "knot," as Mr. Edwards calls 

 it, or construct a covering web, usually on the topmost leaves of the stem, 

 and feed on the green leaves enclosed ; as these are consumed the web is 

 extended down the stem, covering fresh leaves. The first moult takes 

 place in West Virginia in six days, according to Mr. Edwards (from whom 

 a few of the previous facts, and most of the remaining statements concern- 

 ing the catei'pillar are taken bodily) and the second at about the same time 

 thereafter. As they grow they enlarge the web, all working for the com- 

 mon good. Especially as each moult approaches, all wanderers come 

 home, and the web is made tight, and into it they retire and pass the 

 moult, which over, the web is extended again. If at any time the web is 

 injured by storms, the caterpillars forthwith set at work repairing, and do 

 not rest, whether it rains or shines, till the work is done. Mr. Edwards 

 thinks they have a prevision of storms, and all hands may be seen Avorking 

 at their dwelling industriously, strengthening it here and there, even Avhen 

 the sky is clear, and there appears no reason for work. Thus ]\Ir. Edwards 

 relates that a June day "began with showers, but cleared up in the after- 

 noon, and all of a sudden the Avhole colony was found actively at Avork. 

 I entered in my note-book that I believed the unusual stir was owing to a 

 change of weather for the worse, which these creatures had a prevision of, 

 for I had noticed some years ago that before a storm great efforts were made 

 by phaeton larvae to put the webs in order." In this instance, however, the 

 rain did not come for two days. In case of damage to the nest it is at 

 once repaired when sunshine returns. A few holes are left for ingress and 

 egress. To this nest they retire for the night and for moulting, feeding- 

 only by day, when they extend the webs over new feeding ground, though 

 many are found wandering beyond its protection. 



The first nests built are slight and quite transparent, the warp composed 

 of long, regular and colorless threads, which run from the stem to the 

 middle of the next leaves below, and are liound together by innumerable 

 cross threads, which take no regularity Avhatever. Each succeeding nest 

 is more securely built, till finally, when the third moult approaches, nine 

 or ten days after the second, the web is often as large as a man's open 

 hand, made of closely woven silk, of more than one coat, and capable of 

 resisting storms and even the wear and tear of winter. Mr. Edwards 

 found one eleven by four inches at its extremes. Within this more com- 

 pact web they pass their third moult, and then remain hibernating along 

 with their cast-ofF clothing. Three such nests were found by Mr. Emery 

 in September, 1869. He kept one in ajar in a partially warmed room 

 until at least the middle of November, and the caterpillars were then 



