90 INTRODUCTION. 



in which they pass the winter and continue to dwell 

 all the time they remain in society. This they 

 generally form near the extremity of some of the 

 twigs that afforded them food. It presents, when 

 completed, the appearance of a large packet of silk 

 and leaves rudely interwoven, and of no uniform 

 shape, the latter heing regulated entirely by the 

 disposition of the shoots which support it. The 

 whole colony work busily at this new edifice, and 

 stretch their strong nets in all directions till they 

 have enclosed a sufficient space. The different 

 webs divide the interior of the nest into several 

 compartments of very irregular form, but each of 

 sufficient capacity to contain a number of caterpil- 

 lars. When the interior is laid open, a number of 

 cells are visible, forming such a complete labyrinth, 

 that it is difficult to comprehend how the larvas that 

 lodge in the centre find means to reach their 

 quarters. This, however, they are enabled to do 

 by means of doors or passages, which they take 

 care to leave open at convenient places as the 

 structure advances. The texture of these nests is 

 so strong that they withstand all the storms of 

 winter and spring, and protect their little inmates 

 till the beginning of summer, when they disperse 

 in order to undergo their metamorphosis. 



The nests of other kinds of social caterpillars are 

 frequently formed with less art than the above. 

 Those found in such profusion in certain seasons 

 on apple trees, made by caterpillars which produce a 

 small pearl-white moth, sprinkled with black dots, 



