156 THE LIFE OF AN INSECT. 



The Iarva3 of some insects again seem as if they 

 were clothed from head to foot in the most delicate 

 and snowy white cotton wool. These may some- 

 times be seen on our apple-trees ; but one of the 

 most singular is figured in the cut, from an en- 

 graving given in Baron de Geer's work. The 

 larva is covered completely with a 

 coat of cottony flakes of the most 

 dazzling white, and these are ar- 

 ranged, as will be perceived, with 

 great regularity. The larva lias, in 

 this white and warm raiment, some- 



Singi,larly coated 



what of the aspect of a coachman 

 buried in the old-fashioned great coats with the 

 many capes. 



Having dwelt so long upon the food and cloth- 

 ing of the insect in the larva form, it is right we 

 should now devote a little space to consider how 

 they breathe. Some one perhaps will say, Breathe ? 

 do Iarva3 breathe ? Most certainly; and respi- 

 ration, or the function of breathing, is not more 

 necessary to us than it is to these creatures. For 

 this purpose, however, we must begin a fresh 

 chapter. 



