The Life of the Caterpillar 



caterpillars, failing to distinguish it from their 

 own ribbon, follow it conscientiously and in 

 this manner end by reaching a strange dwell- 

 ing. Suppose them to be peacefully received : 

 what will happen? 



Once fused, the several groups assembled 

 by the accident of the path will form a power- 

 ful city, fitted to produce great works; the 

 concerted weaklings will give rise to a strong, 

 united body. This would explain the thickly- 

 populated, bulky nests situated so near to 

 others that have remained puny. The former 

 would be the work of a syndicate incorporat- 

 ing the interests of spinners collected from 

 different parts; the latter would belong to 

 families left in isolation by the luck of the 

 road. 



It remains to be seen whether the chance- 

 comers, guided by a strange ribbon, meet with 

 a good reception in the new abode. The ex- 

 periment is easily made upon the nests in the 

 greenhouse. In the evening, at the hours 

 devoted to grazing, I remove with a pruning- 

 shears the different little branches covered 

 with the population of one nest and lay them 

 on the provisions of the neighbouring nest, 

 which provisions are also overrun with cater- 



