The Life of the Caterpillar 



nificent white silk. This is the winter habita- 

 tion, whence the family, still very feeble, will 

 not issue until the fine weather returns. 



The assembling of this leafy framework is 

 not due to any special industry on the cater- 

 pillars' part; they do not stretch their threads 

 from leaf to leaf and then, by pulling at these 

 ropes, bring the various pieces of the structure 

 into contact. It is merely the result of des- 

 iccation on the nibbled surfaces. Fixed cables, 

 it is true, solidly bind together the leaves 

 brought close to one another by the contrac- 

 tion due to their aridity; but they do not in 

 any way play the part of a motive mechanism 

 in the work of the assemblage. 



No hauling-ropes are here, no capstans to 

 move the timbers. The feeble creatures would 

 be incapable of such effort. The thing hap- 

 pens of itself. Sometimes a floating thread, 

 the plaything of the air, enlaces some adjacent 

 leaf. This chance footbridge tempts the ex- 

 plorers, who hasten to strip the accidental 

 prize; and, without other labour, yet one more 

 leaf bends of its own accord and is added 

 to the enclosure. For the most part, the 

 house is built by eating; a lodging is procured 

 by dint of banqueting. 



154 



