Chap. V. LEAF-ROLLING CATERPILLARS. 349 



dull slaty colour and belongs to the Lithosiide group 

 of the silk-worm family (Bombycidse). When the cater- 

 pillar begins its work, it lets itself down from the tip 

 of the leaf which it has chosen, by spinning a thread 

 of silk, the thickness of which it slowly increases as it 

 descends. Having given the proper length to the cord, 

 it proceeds to weave its elegant bag, placing itself in the 

 centre and spinning rings of silk at regular intervals, 

 connecting them at the same time by means of cross 

 threads ; so that the whole, when finished, forms a loose 

 web, with quadrangular meshes of nearly equal size 

 throughout. The task occupies about four days : when 

 finished, the enclosed caterpillar becomes sluggish, its 

 skin shrivels and cracks, and there then remains a 

 motionless chrysalis of narrow shape, leaning against 

 the sides of its silken cage. 



Many other kinds are found at Ega belonging to the 

 same cocoon-weaving family, some of which differ from 

 the rest in their caterpillars possessing the art of fabri- 

 cating cases with fragments of wood or leaves, in which 

 they live secure from all enemies whilst they are feed- 

 ing and growing. I saw many species of these ; some 

 of them knitted together, with fine silken threads, 

 small bits of stick, and so made tubes similar to those 

 of caddice-worms ; others (Saccophora) chose leaves 

 for the same purpose, forming with them an elongated 

 bag open at both ends, and having the inside lined 

 with a thick web. The tubes of full-grown caterpillars 

 of Saccophora are two inches in length, and it is at this 

 stage of growth, that I have generally seen them. They 

 feed on the leaves of Melastomse, and as, in crawling, 



