HABITATIONS OF INSECTS. 477 



is hatched, the young caterpillars, to the number of three 

 or four hundred, commence their operations. At first 

 they content themselves by forming a sort of hammock 

 of the single leaf upon which they find themselves as- 

 sembled, covering it with a roof composed of a number 

 of silken threads drawn from one edge to the other; 

 and under one or more of these temporary habitations 

 they reside for a few days, until they are become large 

 and strong enough to undertake a more solid and spa- 

 cious building sufficient to contain the whole society. 

 In constructing this new habitation, they spin a close 

 silken web round the end of two or three adjoining 

 twigs and the leaves attached to them, so as to include 

 the requisite space. They are not curious in giving 

 any particular form to the edifice : sometimes it is fiat, 

 often roundish, but always more or less angular. The 

 interior is divided by partitions of silk into several ir- 

 regular apartments, to each of which there is purposely 

 left an appropriate door. Within these the caterpillars 

 retire at night, or in rainy Aveather, quitting the nest 

 on fine days, and dispersing themselves over the neigh- 

 bouring leaves, upon which they feed. Here too they 

 repose during the critical period of the change of their 

 skins. On the approach of winter the whole community 

 shut themselves up in the nest, which, by the addition 

 of repeated layers of silk, has at this time become so 

 thick and strong as. to be impervious to the wind and 

 rain. They remain in a state of torpidity during the 

 cold months, but towards the beginning of April are 

 awakened to activity by the genial breath of spring, 

 and begin to feed with greediness upon the young leaves 

 that surround their habitation, which, as thev soon 



