legists who have written since his time. These 

 insects feed on vegetables, and many of the spe- 

 cies are very injurious to useful plants, by de- 

 vouring their leaves and buds. The larva is 

 furnished with six scaly feet, which are situated 

 near the head ; some of the species in the larva 

 state, protect themselves from the ardour of the 

 sun, and from the attacks of their enemies, by 

 fabricating a cylindrical covering, closed at one 

 end, into which they can withdraw every part of 

 the body ; it is generally composed of small grains 

 of vegetable and excrementitious matter, aggluti- 

 nated together by a viscous excretion from the 

 body. With the head and feet protruded from 

 this little domicil, and carrying it erect with re- 

 spect to their pathway, the artificer proceeds at a 

 slow pace, in quest of food. The perfect insect is, 

 also, slow in its movements, and on the approach 

 of danger, it counterfeits death by retracting the 

 feet and antennae close to the body, and per- 

 mitting itself to fall from any height to the 

 ground. 



PLATE XXV III. 



