CH. I.] WHAT WERE THEY ? 149 



the use to which the missing pieces had been ap- 

 plied was made apparent. They were adhering 

 flat-wise to the under sides of the leaves, and from 

 their pufly appearance, evidently formed coverings 

 to some bulky substances. These, on my stripping 

 off their covers, proved to be large fat grubs 

 (apparently at least two thirds of an inch long) 

 each comfortably tucked in by his green sheet, 

 which was closely cemented to the leaf forming 

 the bed under which he reposed. 



As to the insect to which these larvae owed their 

 existence I must confess myself much in the dark. 

 Not having, at the time when I discovered them, 

 paid as much attention as I ought to this branch 

 of Natural History, I was not then aware that 

 there was anything very uncommon in this dis- 

 position of the larvae, and in consequence unfor- 

 tunately neglected to secure a specimen or make 

 accurate measurements. Since then I have spared 

 no pains to ascertain what the insect was, and have 

 applied for information on the subject to some 

 of our most distinguished entomologists, hitherto 

 however, strange to say, without success. Divers 

 species, Donacia, Hydrocampa stagnalis, Nym- 

 phosolis, &c. &c. have been suggested, but in 

 no instance does the manner in which the 



