HICKORY-HORNED DEVIL. 183 



and similar to that of the bark of a tree : so that, 

 doubtless, the sparrows and other birds are fre- 

 quently deceived by this manoeuvre, and thus 

 balked of their prey. Rosel's gardener, mistaking 

 one of these caterpillars for a dead twig, started 

 back in great alarm, when, upon attempting to 

 break it off, he found it was a living animal." 



Some, however, are actually armed, so as to 

 offer an active resistance to the onslaught of any 

 enemy. Mr. Abbot has described a terrible 

 caterpillar, well known in certain districts in 

 America, under the strange title of the " Hickory- 

 horned Devil." This creature is furnished with 

 seven or eight strong horn-like spines, upwards of 

 half an inch in length, which project from its head 

 and anterior segments. When threatened by 

 danger, the caterpillar does not attempt to fly, 

 but lifts up its head menacingly, and shakes it 

 about in a very fierce manner. The negroes, 

 in particular, are so terrified at its aspect, that 

 they dread it as much as the rattlesnake. But, 

 in reality, it is harmless ; and Mr. Abbot, in 

 order to convince the ignorant people that such 

 was the case, took hold of it, in their presence, 

 without receiving any injury. This, however, 



