396 Zoology. 
vases, &c. having ornaments in relief of exquisite workmanship, 
intended to resemble sculpture. 
Lorthier, the celebrated French medallist, died at Paris in the 
course of the present month at the advanced age of 82. He 
executed nearly all the dies of the medals and coins of France 
for the last fifty years. 
M. Huber of Geneva last. year presented to the French Insti- 
tute a paper on the singular industry of a small caterpillar, 
to which he gives the name of Chenille a4 Hamoc, or the 
Hammock Caterpillar ; in consequence of the manner in which 
it suspends itself in order to pass its dormant state, or during 
the period in which it remains as a chrysalis, It belongs to 
the family ef those caterpillars which are denominated Mz- 
neuses; and it lives in the mterior of some fruit-trees, In the 
month of August it ceases to eat, and then begmms to spin its 
hammock, for the completion of which it occupies only five 
hours. ‘Fwo cords, extended between the sides of a leaf turned 
inward, so as to give a concavity to the upper part, form its 
principal supports: it is there suspended by some fastenings of 
silk ; and two other fastenings, which are fixed to the edges of 
the leaf, hold it steady as if at anchor. The hammock itself is 
in the shape of a small cylindrical case. M. Huber has not 
contented himself with simply following with attention, and de- 
scribing with precision, the successive operations of this little 
artisan, who constructs this complicated retreat ; but. has en- 
eavoured to discover how far these operations are subject to 
changes by the insect, and if varied according to circumstances. 
A worm which is taken away after it has begun the con- 
struction of its hammock, will recommence it as long as it retains 
silky materials sufficient for the work. If it is placed on a con- 
struction begun by another, it continues it from the point where 
the other has left off; but when the one to which it is placed is 
far advanced, it seems to prefer recommencing the whole ab 
initio. ‘The fly which issues from the worm seems to be the 
Phalena Clerkella of Linneus, and one of its enemies is, the 
Ichneumon ramicornis. 
M. Montigre has made some curious observations on the 
habits and the anatomy of the Lumbricus, or earthworm. These 
animals are hermaphrodites, and all productive: and accord- 
ing to the observation of M. Montigre, they produce their young 
alive. They nevertheless require a copulation, which seems 
to be performed without the least intromission of parts, so 
that one might be led to suppose that it had no other oi 
than 
