Hedgerow Life 
ordinary caterpillar feeds on the beech. 
It is‘called a ‘ lobster ’—and really looks 
something like one. It is reddish, and 
sits head-downwards, and extends its 
long fore-legs like the feelers of a 
lobster. Its tail also hangs down, while 
it holds fast by its legs in the middle of 
its body. 
As all the moths and _ butterflies 
begin from an egg, they have to make 
three distinct changes. From the egg 
comes a tiny caterpillar, which very often 
begins life by eating up its old egg-shell, 
and then goes on as it has begun, always 
eating, eating. It eats such a lot, and 
grows so fast, that its jacket gets too 
tight for it, and it has to change it or 
burst. And when the old coat has split, 
and it crawls out with a brand-new suit 
on, all ready made, it eats up its old 
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