INSTINCT OF INSECTS. 477 



habitation has been before noticed'* — one of those 

 which constantly reside in a subcylindrical case — are 

 still more remarkable. This little caterpillar feeds 

 Upon the elm, the leaves of which serve it at once 

 for food and clothing. It eats the parenchyma or 

 inner pulp, burrowing- between the upper and under 

 membranes, of portions of which cut out, and pro- 

 perly sewed together, it forms its case. Its usual plan 

 is, to insinuate itself between the epidermal mem- 

 branes of the leaf, close to one of the edges. Parallel 

 with this it excavates a cavity of suitable form and di- 

 mensions, gnawing the pulp even out of every projec- 

 tion of the serratures, but carefully avoiding to sepa- 

 rate the membranes at the very edge, which with a 

 wise saving of labour it intends should form one of the 

 seams of its coat ; and as the little miner is not embar- 

 rassed with the removal of the excavated materials, 

 which it swallows as it proceeds, a cavity sufficiently 

 large is but the work of a few hours. It then lines it 

 with silk, at the same time pushing it into a more cy- 

 lindrical shape ; and lastly, cutting it off at the two 

 ends and inner side, it sews up the latter with such 

 nicety that the suture is scarcely discoverable ; and is 

 now provided with a case or coat exactly fitting its 

 body, open at the two ends, by one of which it feeds 

 and by the other discharges its excrement, having on 

 one side a nicely-joined seam, and the other — that 

 which is commonly applied to its back — composed of 

 the natural marginal junction of the membranes of 

 the leaf. 



Such are the ordinary operations of this insect, which, 



• Vol. I. 9d Ed. 458—. 



