2792' on caterpillars. 287 



tion, than the winds are to prevent a stagnation of the 

 sea. I am respectfully, Sir, 



Your most humble servant, 

 Georpe's square, 1 , , 



Se/2S-n92.S MlSOBRONTES. 



A SINGULAR PHENOMENON 



RESPECTING A CATERPILLAR. 



Sir, To the Editor of the Bee. 



Thi s day, while another gentleman and I were pay- 

 ing our devoirs at the temple of a certain goddefs ; 

 we observed two or three caterpillars with some- 

 thing at the sides of two of them, of a yellowiili co- 

 lour j which, upon a nearer inspection, we found to 

 be a great number of cocoons of silk, differing only 

 in size from those of the silk worni. On breaking 

 one of these, a juicy substance came out. Being de- 

 sirous of making further observations on these ca- 

 terpillars, we brought into the house one with, and 

 another without the cocoons. It was then about ten 

 o'clock. In an hour and an ',alf afterwards, we saw 

 about eighteen living creatures making their way 

 out of tiie last mentioned caterpillar, nearly about the 

 middle of the body. They did not resemble the cater- 

 pillar in any respect ; being of a yellov/ifh colour, 

 pointed, and blackifti towards the head, and without 

 any feet. As soon as they had made their way cut 

 of the body, they immediately commenced spinning 

 cocoons, similar to those about the other caterpillar. 

 By iive o'clock they had completed their work. 

 During all this time the mother lay perfectly mo- 



