SINGULAR FORMS OF LARVAE. 155 



hair pencils. Madame Merian has described the 

 larva of an insect found in Surinam as having 

 * the various divisions of its body ornamented 

 with three blue tubercles, like turquoise beads, 

 from each of which proceeds a long, delicate, 

 feathery plume of a black colour. Another, de- 

 scribed by the same lady, is splendidly adorned 

 on each side with fifty red tubercles, shining 

 like coral, from each of which proceed five or 

 six long hairs. Some, again, are covered as 

 thickly as possible with sharp processes, like 

 thorns, sufficiently strong and sharp to pierce the 

 skin of any one who incautiously ventures to 

 take them up. The body of a small caterpillar 

 brought from Brazil, is described by Kirby and 

 Spence as possessing a body so thickly planted 

 with spines, like the branches of a tree, as ab- 

 solutely to wear the appearance of a forest or 

 thicket in miniature ! It has been stated, indeed, 

 by some travellers, that the larva of some insects 

 has the power of darting out, when alarmed 

 by the approach of anything, such as the human 

 hand, from as many knobs or protuberances in its 

 back, eight bunches of little stings, with which it 

 inflicts a very painful and venomous wound. 



