ANECDOTE OF A LARVA. 



205 



cords, so as to produce a seam so beautifully close, 

 even, and fine, as would put the " fine-drawing" 

 of the most superlative tailor to shame ; in fact, 

 the join is frequently quite imperceptible. Having 

 done this, it lines the inside with beautiful tapestry 

 of silk. By the time Keaumur and his friends had 

 got to the end of their walk, which occupied an 

 hour and a little more, the larva had, after vast 

 labour, joined together its seams, and far advanced 

 toward the completion of its task. 



Reaumur made also some most interesting ob- 

 servations upon a larva which constructs its cocoon 

 of a sort of silken mesh, the interstices of which 

 are filled with grains of 

 earth. Having broken 

 oiF the top of a cocoon 

 he witnessed the sin- 

 gular spectacle of the j 

 larva proceeding to 

 mend it again. With- 

 out leaving its cell, the 

 patient labourer put its 

 head out of the opening 

 in the attitude repre- 

 sented in the cut, and, after looking about for a 



