186 THE LIFE OF AN INSECT. 



Certainly, its appearance is not the most engaging 

 in the world, as may be conceived from the repre- 

 sentation of it in the cut ; and what adds to its 

 singularity is, that it possesses the power of lashing 

 its sides with its tail, so as to drive away flies. If 

 the reader should be fortunate enough to find one, 

 he may have some amusement in examining all the 

 curious apparatus with which this rather forbid- 

 ding looking insect is supplied. 



The winter draws near, and sends its foretoken- 

 ing cold breathings to warn every creature, vege- 

 table and animal, that the dark season is arriving, 

 when food is no longer to be obtained. What is 

 to become of the larva ? Can it endure the pene- 

 trating tooth of frost, or the overwhelming shower 

 of rain ? Or can it endure to be from week to 

 week, from month to month, without a mouthful of 

 food ? From the facts already stated with re- 

 ference to the age of larva, it is very certain 

 that many larvae have to bear these trials ; and 

 some, not merely during one, but during several 

 winters. We must, therefore, inquire how they 

 have been defended, or strengthened, so as to 

 enable them so to do. 



The alteration in the coats of animals during 



