The Stinging Power 



rushing Aygues, a thorny shrub abounds 

 which, at the advent of autumn, is covered 

 with an infinity of very sour red berries. 

 Its crabbed boughs, which bear but little ver- 

 dure, are hidden under their clusters of ver- 

 milion balls. It is the sallow thorn or sea 

 buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides). 



In April, a very hairy but rather pretty 

 caterpillar lives at the expense of this shrub's 

 budding leaves. He has on his back five dense 

 tufts of hair, set side by side and arranged 

 like the bristles of a brush, tufts deep-black 

 in the centre and white at the edges. He 

 waves two divergent plumes in front of him 

 and sports a third on his crupper, like a 

 feathery tail. These three are black hair- 

 pencils of extreme delicacy. 



His greyish Moth, flattened motionless on 

 the bark, stretches his long fore-legs, one 

 against the other, in front of him. You would 

 take them, at a first glance, for antennae of 

 exaggerated proportions. This pose of the 

 extended limbs has won the insect the scientific 

 label of Orgyia, arm's length; and also the 

 vulgar and more expressive denomination of 

 Patte etendue, or outstretched paw. 



Little Paul has not failed, with my aid, to 

 i37 



