IMPERFECT SOCIETIES OF INSECTS. 23 



agreeable sight, says one of Nature's most favoured 

 admirers, Bonnet, to see several hundreds of the larvae 

 of P. B. Neustria marching after each other, some in 

 straight lines, others in curves of various inflexion, re- 

 sembling, from their fiery colour, a moving cord of gold 

 stretched upon a silken ribband of the purest white ; 

 this ribband is the carpeted causeway that leads to 

 their leafy pasture from their nest. Equally amusing 

 is the progress of another moth, the Pilj/ocai/ipa, be- 

 fore noticed ; they march togetlier from their common 

 citadel, consisting of pine-leaves united and inwoven 

 with the silk wliich they spin, in a single iiae : in fol- 

 lowing each other they describe a multitude of grace- 

 ful curves of varying figure, thus forming a series of 

 jiving wreaths, which change their shape every mo- 

 ment : — all move with a uniform pace, no one pressing 

 too forward or loitering behind ; when the first stops, 

 all stop, each defiling in exact military order^. 



A still more singular and pleasing spectacle, when 

 their regiments march out to forage, is exhibited by 

 the Processionarj/ Bombijx. This moth, which is a 

 native of France, and has not yet been found in this 

 country, inhabits the oak. Each family consists of 

 from 600 to 800 individuals. When young, they have 

 no fixed habitation, but encamp sometimes in one place 

 and sometimes in another, under the shelter of their 

 web : but when they have attained two-thirds of their 

 growth, they weave for themselves a common tent, be- 

 fore described''. About sun-set the regiment leaves 

 its quarters ; or, to make the metaphor harmonize with 



=^ Bonnet, ii. 57, *> Vol. I. 2d Erl. 478, 



