122 OUR INSECT FRIENDS AND FOES 



their strong jaws, in the construction of their 

 curious houses, others blades of grass, straw, or 

 small twigs. Others, again, adorn their cases 

 with moss or tiny stones, and one Psyche 

 chooses a shell as a model for the construction 

 of its portable home. Although many of these 

 tubes are rough, odd-looking affairs, others are 

 wonderfully compact and symmetrical; all, how- 

 ever are finished off inside with a soft, smooth, 

 silken lining. 



The Psyche carries its cases about with it as 

 a snail does its shell ; when it moves it grips the 

 inside of the case firmly with its membranous 

 legs and protrudes its head and fore-legs, so that 

 it walks along dragging its house behind it. 

 When alarmed the insect hastily retires within 

 its tube, so as to be completely hidden from 

 view, but the danger being past, head and fore- 

 legs slowly and cautiously reappear and the 

 Psyche continues placidly on its way. 



Several species of Psyche are common in 

 England. In the early summer months Psyche 

 graminella may be seen crawling over grasses, 

 brooms and heather; its tube is composed of 

 little pieces of leaves all cut to the same size 

 and pattern and arranged round the tube in a 

 series of flounces, each one slightly over-lapping 

 another, while the end is finished off with two 

 or three rows of fine splinters of wood, or 

 twigs, arranged like a spiked collar round the 

 insect's head. From time to time as the insect 

 grows it enlarges its tube by adding another 

 frill of leaves, and when it becomes too tight 

 for comfort Psyche makes a lengthways slit in 



