CHAPTER XXXIII 



PROCESSIONARY CATERPILLARS 



4 T II 7K) frequently see, at the ends of pine branches, 

 V V voluminous bags of white silk intermixed 

 with leaves. These bags are, generally, puffed out 

 at the top and narrow at the bottom, pear-shaped. 

 They are sometimes as large as a person's head. 

 They are nests where live together a kind of very 

 velvety caterpillars with red hairs. A family of 

 caterpillars, coming from the eggs laid by one but- 

 terfly, construct a silk lodging in common. All take 

 part in the work, all spin and weave in the general 

 interest. The interior of the nest is divided by thin 

 silk partitions into a number of compartments. At 

 the large end, sometimes elsewhere, is seen a wide 

 funnel-shaped opening; it is the large door for en- 

 tering and departing. Other doors, smaller, are dis- 

 tributed here and there. The caterpillars pass the 

 winter in their nest, well sheltered from bad weather. 

 In summer they take refuge there at night and 

 during the great heat. 



"As soon as it is day, they set out to spread them- 

 selves on the pine and eat the leaves. After eating 

 their fill they reenter their silk dwelling, sheltered 

 from the heat of the sun. Now, when they are out 

 on a campaign, be it on the tree that bears the nest, 

 or on the ground passing from one pine to another, 



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