THE TUSSOCK MOTH 167 



and providers* As the Tussocks devour the leaves of 

 the shade trees, it is satisfactory to reflect that tiny 

 parasites are devouring them* Only a few will survive 

 to fulfil their life mission* 



They grow by coming out of themselves by 

 casting off their outer covering, head, legs, plumes, 

 and tufts of hair* From the inert larva thus cast off 

 another emerges, with new head, legs, tufts, decora- 

 tions, and markings, larger and brighter than the 

 outer form that surrounded it* This change takes place 

 two or three times during the few weeks of larval 

 existence, and then the full-grown Caterpillars spin 

 themselves grey, comfortable cocoons for the brief 

 sleep of their pupal state* Some find a comfortable 

 place in the cloth bands set about the trees to entrap 

 them ; but of the pupae thus collected and burned 

 the great majority are already doomed to death by 

 parasites the little beneficial insects thus mistakenly 

 destroyed* It is not in human affairs alone that we 

 injure ourselves and our friends by the pursuit of 

 our supposed enemies* 



Some of the well-fed larvae are too indolent to 

 descend the trees, and sleep in the upper branches, 

 but the more adventurous make a limited migration 

 from tree to tree* Females choose the trees which will 

 supply food for their next season's brood, while the 

 males, rejoicing in the prospect of winged flight, are 

 satisfied with any crevice in a fence or wall* The 



