298 MOTIONS OF INSECTS. 



their abdomen being- then folded under the breast ; 

 when disposed to descend the animal unfolds it, and 

 by sudden strokes which she gives with it and her anal 

 swimmers to the water, she swims, to the right and 

 left as well as downwards, with as much ease as the 

 larva ''. 



Bonnet mentions a pupa which climbs up and down 

 in its cocoon, — and that of the common glow-worm 

 {Lampi/ris noclUuca, L.) will sometimes push itself 

 along by the alternate extension and contraction of 

 the segments of its body**. — Others turn round when 

 disturbed. That of a weevil {Cureulio Arator, L.), 

 which spins itself a beautiful cocoon like line gauze, and 

 which it fixes to the stalks of the common spurrey {Sa- 

 gina arve7isis, L.)? upon my touching this stalk, whirled 

 round several times with astonishing rapidity. — The 

 chrysalis of a scarce moth {Bombj/x dispar, F.) when 

 touched turns round with great quickness ; but, as if 

 fearful of breaking the thread by which it is suspended 

 by constantly twisting it in one direction, it performs 

 its gyrations alternately from left to right, and from 

 right to leff. Generally speaking, quiescent pupae 

 when disturbed show that they have life, by giving 

 their abdomen violent contortions. 



But the most extraordinary motion of pupaB is jump- 

 ing*. In the year 1810 I received an account from a 

 very intelligent young lady, who collected and studied 

 insects with more than common ardour and ability, 

 that a friend had brought her a chrysalis endued with 

 this faculty. It was scarcely a quarter of an inch iii 



» De Gcer, vi. 308. •> Ibid. iv. 43. 



= Dumeii!, Trait. Element, ii. 49. n. 603. 



