THE CATERPILLAR. 7 



impunity, and afterwards lived to hatch duly. Then as 

 to their heat-resisting powers, some tropical insecta 

 habitually lay their eggs in sandy, sun-scorched places, 

 where the hand cannot endure to remain a few mo- 

 ments ; the heat rising daily to somewhere about 190° 

 of the thermometer — and we know what a roasting one 

 gets at 90° or so. Yet they thrive through all this. 



For a short time previous to hatching, the form 

 and colour of the caterpillar is faintly discoverable 

 through the semi-transparent egg-shelL The juvenile 

 Caterpillar, or Larva, gnaws his way through the 

 shell into the world, and makes his appearance in 

 the shape of a slender worm, exceedingly minute of 

 course, and bearing few of the distinctive marks of 

 his species, either as to shape or colouring. On find- 

 ing himself at liberty, in the midst of plentiful good 

 cheer, he at once falls vigorously to work at the great 

 business of his life — eating; often making his first 

 meal — oddly enough — off the egg-shell, lately his cradle. 

 This singular relish, or digestive pill, swallowed, he 

 addresses himself to the food that is to form the staple 

 fare during the whole of his caterpillar existence — viz. 

 the leaves of his food-plant, which at the same time is 

 his home-plant too. 



At this stage hia growth is marvellously rapid, and few 

 .features can equal him in the capacity for doubling hia 

 weight — not even the starved lodging-house " slavey," 

 when she gets to her new place, with carte blanche 

 allowance and the key of the pantry; for, in the course 



