180 



NATURE S TEACHINGS. 



Ermine-moth (Hyponomeuta padella) affords a familiar example 

 of this structure. The caterpillars are great roamers in search of 

 food by day, and travel from branch to branch on their strong 

 silken threads. At night, however, they return to a large white 

 silken habitation which they have spun, and which they divide 

 into many compartments, as may easily be seen by cutting the 

 nest open with very sharp scissors. Within this habitation the 

 caterpillars spin their separate cocoons, so that the system of 

 double walls is thoroughly carried out. 



There is another insect, very common on the Continent, but, 

 happily for us, not introduced into England. It is called the 

 Processionary Moth, from its curious habit of marching in exact 

 lines, the head of the second caterpillar touching the tail of the 

 first, and so on. These insects have likewise a common home, 

 and spin their own separate cocoons within it. 



THERE are two other sociable British Moths which make 

 nests on a similar principle. These are the Gold- tailed Moth 

 (Porthesia chrysorrhcea) and the Brown-tailed Moth (Porthcxia 

 auriflua). They are both beautifully white insects, but may 



NBST OF PROCESSIONARY 

 MOTH. 



COCOON OP SILK- 

 WORM. 



FIREVKOOF SAFE. 



easily be distinguished from each other, the Gold-tailed Moth 

 having some brown-black spots on the upper wings, and a tuft 

 of golden-yellow hairs at the end of the body ; while the 

 Brown-tailed Moth is without spots, and the tail-tuft is brown. 

 In habits they are very similar, and the description of the 

 nest made by one will answer for that made by the other. I 

 believe that broods of these two species have been known to 



