The Life of the Caterpillar 



months' experience if indeed experience can 

 be mentioned in connection with a caterpillar 

 tells them of savoury bellyfuls of green 

 stuff, of gentle slumbers in the sun on the ter- 

 race of the nest; but nothing hitherto has 

 made them acquainted with cold, steady rain, 

 with frost, snow and furious blasts of wind. 

 And these creatures, knowing naught of win- 

 ter's woes, take the same precautions as if they 

 were thoroughly aware of all that the incle- 

 ment season holds in store for them. They 

 work away at their house with an ardour that 

 seems to say: 



"Oh, how nice and warm we shall be in 

 our beds here, nestling one against the other, 

 when the pine-tree swings aloft its frosted 

 candelabra ! Let us work with a will ! Labore- 

 musf" 



Yes, caterpillars, my friends, let us work 

 with a will, great and small, men and grubs 

 alike, so that we may fall asleep peacefully; 

 you with the torpor that makes way for your 

 transformation into Moths, we with that last 

 sleep which breaks off life only to renew it. 

 Lab or emus! 



Anxious to watch my caterpillars' habits in 

 detail, without having to sally forth by lan- 

 34 



