66 LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 



coarser pieces for the outside, and the smaller 

 and finer for the inside of the nest, which it 

 made perfectly smooth. 



When the sides were sufficiently high, it 

 wanted to close the opening in the top of the 

 nest, and this, too, must be done with earth and 

 silk, and must be made as strong and solid as 

 the walls. 



You know the earth was on the bottom of 

 the box, and when the caterpillar wanted a 

 piece, it had to reach out and get it; but it could 

 not do this any longer, because it had now to 

 shut itself in, and must, of course, work alto- 

 gether inside of the nest, and yet the top must 

 be made of earth. 



How would you have managed to do this, if 

 you had been in the caterpillar's situation ? 



Harriet. Indeed, I cannot tell. 



Mary. I would have done without a top. 



Renee. I think I know what I would have 

 done. I would have taken some of the earth 

 into the nest with me, and then tried if I could 

 not work it over the top from the inside. 



Aunt M. And the caterpillar did just so. It 

 carried a quantity of earth with it into the nest, 



