LETTER XV. 



HABITATIONS OF INSECTS 

 CONTINUED. 



1 HE habitations of insects which I shall next proceed 

 to describe, are those formed by the united labour of 

 several individuals. 



The societies which thus combine their operations 

 may be divided into two kinds : 1st, those of which the 

 object is simply the conservation of the individuals 

 composing them ; and 2dly, those whose object is also 

 the nurture and education of their young. To the last 

 head belong bees, wasps, &c. : to the former the larvas 

 of some species of moths, whose labours being the most 

 simple I shall first describe. 



You cannot fail to have observed in gardens the fruit- 

 trees disfigured, as you would probably think them, 

 w ith what at first view seem very strong and thick spi- 

 ders' webs. If you have bestowed upon these webs the 

 slightest attention, you must have likewisse remarked 

 that they differ very materially in their construction 

 from those spun by spiders, inclosing on every side an 

 angular space, and being besides filled with caterpil- 

 lars. These are the larvae of Bombj/x chri/sorrhceay 

 and the web which contains them is spun by their united 

 labour for the protection of the common society. As 

 soon as the cluster of eggs deposited by the parent moth 



