The Life of the Caterpillar 



server. I shall have something to say 

 presently of the itch to which he is at such 

 times exposed. 



Are these peculiar stomata designed merely 

 to collect the adjoining bristles and to grind 

 them to powder? Are these fine-skinned 

 papillae, which inflate and ascend from the 

 depths of their hiding-place, intended to get 

 rid of the accumulation of broken hairs? Or 

 is it the sole function of this peculiar ap- 

 paratus to prepare, at the expense of the cater- 

 pillar's fleece, an irritant dust which shall act 

 as a means of defence? Nothing tells us so. 



Certainly the caterpillar is not armed 

 against the enquirer who from time to time 

 takes it into his head to come and examine 

 him through a magnifying-glass. It is even 

 very doubtful whether he troubles at all about 

 those passionate caterpillar-lovers, Calosoma 

 sycophanta 1 among insects and the Cuckoo 

 among birds. Those who consume such fare 

 have a stomach expressly fashioned for the 

 purpose, a stomach that laughs at blistering 

 hairs and possibly finds an appetizing stimu- 

 lant in their sting. No, I do not see the mo- 

 tives that prompted the Processionary to 



1 A large carnivorous Beetle. Translator's Note. 

 94 



