The Processionary : Meteorology 



To this list I add the meteorological chart 

 of Europe which the Temps publishes daily. 

 If I want more precise data, I request the 

 Normal School at Avignon to send me, on 

 occasions of violent disturbances, the barome- 

 trical records of its observatory. These are 

 the only documents at my disposal. 



Before we come to the results obtained, let 

 me once more repeat that my caterpillars' 

 meteorological institute has two stations : one 

 in the greenhouse and one in the open air, 

 on the pines in the enclosure. The first, pro- 

 tected against the wind and rain, is that which 

 I prefer: it provides more regular and more 

 continuous information. In fact, the open- 

 air caterpillars often enough refuse to come 

 out, even though the general conditions be 

 favourable. It is enough to keep them at 

 home if there be too strong a wind shaking 

 the boughs, or even a little moisture dripping 

 on the web of the nests. Saved from these 

 two perils, the greenhouse caterpillars have 

 only to consider atmospheric Incidents of a 

 higher order. The small variations escape 

 them; the great alone make an impression on 

 them : a most useful point for the observer 

 and going a long way towards solving the 



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