CH. III.] INSECTS WHICH FORM COCOONS. 51 



that it looks as if suspended in the air, like Mahom- 

 et's coffin, without visible support. 



Other species, among which the beautiful Eng- 

 lish scarlet tiger moth (Hypercampa dominula), may 

 be mentioned, form their cocoons of a somewhat 

 more compact texture, but still insufficient com- 

 pletely to hide the chrysalis. The majority of the 

 species, however, of those which are but ill-con- 

 cealed in their cocoons, endeavour to supply the de- 

 ficiency by drawing the adjacent foliage close to- 



gether with silken strings, in the middle of which 

 they occasionally congregate and form their co- 

 coons in company. But the majority of silken co- 

 coons are of a more solid description. The man- 

 ner in which these cocoons, including that of the 

 silkworm, are spun, is remarkable for not having 

 the thread disposed regularly like that of a ball of 



