THE CATERPILLAR. 



CHAPTER II, 



OF THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE CATERPILLAR INTO 

 ITS CORRESPONDING BUTTERFLY OR MOTH. 



WHEN winter has disrobed the trees of their 

 leaves, nature then seems to have lost her insects. 

 There are thousands of different kinds, with and 

 without wings, which, though swarming at other 

 seasons, then entirely disappear. Our fields are 

 repeopled, when the leaves begin to bud, by the 

 genial influence of spring ; and caterpillars, of va- 

 rious sorts, are seen feeding upon the promise of 

 the year, even before the leaves are completely 

 unfolded. Those caterpillars which we then see, 

 may serve to give us a view of the general means 

 which nature employs to preserve such a number 

 of insects during that season when they can no 

 longer find subsistence. It is known, by united 

 experience, that all these animals are hatched 

 from the eggs of butterflies ; and those who ob- 

 serve them more closely, w r ill find the fly very 

 careful in depositing its eggs in those places 

 where they are likely to be hatched with the 

 greatest safety and success. During winter, 

 therefore, the greatest number of caterpillars are 

 in an egg state ; and in this lifeless situation 

 brave all the rigours and the humidity of the 

 climate 5 and though often exposed to all its 

 changes, still preserve the latent principles of 

 life, which is more fully exerted at the approach 



VOL. VI. D 



