The Processionary: the Eggs 



a strict survey and to extirpate the nests with 

 a long forked batten. 



You voracious little creatures, if I let you 

 have your way, T should soon be robbed of 

 the murmur of my once so leafy pines! To- 

 day I will seek compensation for all the 

 trouble I have taken. Let us make a com- 

 pact. You have a story to tell. Tell it me; 

 and for a year, for two years or longer, until 

 I know more or less all about it, I shall leave 

 you undisturbed, even at the cost of lament- 

 able suffering to the pines. 



Having concluded the treaty and left the 

 caterpillars in peace, T soon have abundant 

 material for my observations. In return for 

 my indulgence I get some thirty nests within 

 a few steps of my door. If the collection 

 were not large enough, the pine-trees in the 

 neighbourhood would supply me with any 

 necessary additions. But I have a preference 

 and a decided preference for the population 

 of my own enclosure, whose nocturnal habits ' 

 are much easier to observe by lantern-light. 

 With s\ich treasures daily before my eyes, at 

 any time that I wish and under natural con- 

 ditions, I cannot fail to see the Processionary's 

 story unfolded at full length. Let us try. 



II 



