THE PINE PROCESSIONARY 129 



ing, to return to the point from which he started. My 

 object is achieved in a quarter of an hour. The closed 

 circuit is realized magnificently, in something very nearly 

 approaching a circle. 



The next thing is to get rid of the rest of the ascend- 

 ing column, which would disturb the fine order of the 

 procession by an excess of newcomers; it is also impor- 

 tant that we should do away with all the silken paths, 

 both new and old, that can put the cornice into communi- 

 cation with the ground. With a thick hair-pencil I sweep 

 away the surplus climbers; with a big brush, one that 

 leaves no smell behind it for this might afterwards 

 prove confusing I carefully rub down the vase and 

 get rid of every thread which the caterpillars have laid 

 on the march. When these preparations are finished, a 

 curious sight awaits us. 



In the uninterrupted circular procession there is no 

 longer a leader. Each caterpillar is preceded by another 

 on whose heels he follows guided by the silk track, the 

 work of the whole party; he again has a companion 

 close behind him, following him in the same orderly 

 way. And this is repeated without variation throughout 

 the length of the chain. None commands, or rather 

 none modifies the trail according to his fancy; all obey, 

 trusting in the guide who ought normally to lead the 

 march and who in reality has been abolished by my 

 trickery. 



From the first circuit of the edge of the tub the rail 

 of silk has been laid in position and is soon turned into 

 a narrow ribbon by the procession, which never ceases 



