TO CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES. 25 



did not seem sufficiently secure;, for it gnawed off por- 

 tions of the basket, an operation which was most dis- 

 tinctly heard, and then worked up these minute frag- 

 ments with the gum from its mouth : in this manner 

 it formed a solid case, which dried as hard as stone ; 

 and as the basket was in part green and white, these 

 colours were speckled minutely over its case. The 

 other caterpillar confined with it, chose the bottom of 

 the basket ; but the surface was evidently unsuitable 

 to it. It repeatedly begun and discontinued its spin- 

 ning till a leaf was thrown in ; on this it immediately 

 seized, and rolling it or rather disposing of it in 

 a hollow form, it immediately attached it to the bot- 

 tom and side of the basket by liquor from its mouth, 

 and then proceeded in all respects like the other cater- 

 pillar, gnawing off portions of the basket, and scatter- 

 ing them over the case till it was rendered quite firm 

 and hard. The astonishing power of the creature was 

 shown in the manner it bit off these minute por- 

 tions, the sound of which was remarkably clear and 

 distinct. It is probable that if left to itself it would 

 have used sand or earth ; but I never saw a cocoon 

 made by this caterpillar when at liberty to choose its 

 own materials. The apis muscorum, L. and some 

 other species of humble-bees, cover their nests with a 

 roof of moss. Mr. P. Huber having placed a nest of 

 the foi-mer under a bell glass, he stuffed the interstices 



