The Life of the Caterpillar 



long the caterpillar labours at it, improving 

 it, adding to it, strengthening it incessantly. 

 And, in order to acquire greater skill, he be- 

 gins his apprenticeship at the moment when 

 he leaves the egg. As preliminary practice 

 for the thick overcoat of full-grown age, he 

 tries his hand on cotton capes. Even so does 

 the Pine Processionary, as soon as hatched, 

 weave first delicate tents, then gauzy cupolas, 

 as harbingers of the mighty wallet in which 

 the community will make its home. Both 

 alike are harassed from the day of their 

 birth by the presentiment of the future; 

 they start life by binding themselves appren- 

 tices to the trade that is to safeguard them 

 one day. 



No, the Psyche is not more sensitive to 

 cold than any other smooth-skinned cater- 

 pillar; he is a creature of foresight. De- 

 prived in winter of the shelters granted to 

 the others, he prepares himself, from his 

 birth, for the building of a home that will 

 be his salvation and practises for it by ma- 

 king fripperies of wadding suited to his 

 strength. He foresees the rigours of winter 

 during the blazing dog-days. 



They are now all clad, my young caterpil- 

 232 



