The Life of the Caterpillar 



Gnat. She measures 3 or 4 millimetres.^ The 

 two sexes are equally numerous and wear the 

 same costume, a black uniform, all but the 

 legs, which are pale red. In spite of this like- 

 ness, they are easily distinguished. The male 

 has an abdomen which is slightly flattened and 

 moreover curved at the tip ; the female, before 

 the laying, has hers full and perceptibly dis- 

 tended by its ovular contents. This rapid 

 sketch of the insect should be enough for 

 our purpose. 



If we wish to know the grub and especially 

 to inform ourselves of its manner of living, 

 it is advisable to rear in a cage a numerous 

 herd of Cabbage-caterpillars. Whereas a 

 direct search on the cabbages in our garden 

 would give us but a difficult and uncertain 

 harvest, by this means we shall daily have as 

 many as we wish before our eyes. 



In the course of June, which is the time 

 when the caterpillars quit their pastures and 

 go far afield to settle on some wall or other, 

 those in my fold, finding nothing better, 

 climb to the dome of the cage to make their 

 preparations and to spin a supporting network 

 for the chrysalid's needs. Among these spin- 



^.117 to .156 inch. — Translator's Note. 



356 



