,86 The Complete Angler 



that their eggs turn the following year to be cater- 

 pillars. And some affirm, that every plant has its 

 particular fly or caterpillar, which it breeds and feeds. 

 I have seen, and may therefore affirm it, a green 

 caterpillar, or worm, as big as a small peascod, which 

 had fourteen legs ; eight on the belly, four under the 

 neck, and two near the tail. It was found on a 

 hedge of privet; and was taken thence, and put 

 into a large box, and a little branch or two of privet 

 put to it, on which I saw it feed as sharply as a dog 

 gnaws a bone : it lived thus, five or six days, and 

 thrived, and changed the colour two or three times, 

 but by some neglect in the keeper of it, it then died, 

 and did not turn to a fly : but if it had lived, it had 

 doubtless turned to one of those flies that some call 

 Flies of prey, which those that walk by the rivers 

 may, in summer, see fasten on smaller flies, and, I 

 think, make them their food. And 'tis observable, 

 that as there be these flies of prey, which be very 

 large ; so there be others, very little, created, I think, 

 only to feed them, and breed out of I know not what ; 

 whose life, they say, nature intended not to exceed 

 an hour ; and yet that life is thus made shorter by 

 other flies, or accident. 



'Tis endless to tell you what the curious searchers 

 into nature's productions have observed of these 

 worms and flies: but yet I shall tell you what 

 Aldrovandus, our Topsel, and others, say of the 

 Palmer-worm, or Caterpillar: that whereas others 

 content themselves to feed on particular herbs or 

 leaves ; for most think, those very leaves that gave 

 them life and shape, give them a particular feeding 

 and nourishment, and that upon them they usually 

 abide ; yet he observes, that this is called a pilgrim, 

 or palmer-worm, for his very wandering life, and 

 various food ; not contenting himself, as others do, 

 with any one certain place for his abode, nor any 



