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nved to their full growth, each forms for himself a cone, 

 where it is transformed into a chrysalis, and afterwards 

 assumes the form of a butterfly. These metamorphoses 

 cause a new kind of life to succeed to the state of so- 

 ciety, which is very different from the primitive one. 



This is an example of societies for life, whose princi- 

 pal end is the preservation of individuals. 



.13. There are several kinds of caterpillars that are 

 true republicans, and whose discipline, manners, and 

 genius, diversify them as much .as those of different peo- 

 ple. Some of them, like savages, make themselves 

 hammocks, in which they take their meals, and even 

 pass their whole lives : others live like the Arabs and 

 Tartars, in tents, which they erect in the meadows ; and 

 when they have consumed all the herbs that grew about 

 them, they go awa) and pitch their camp elsewhere. 



The nests which the republican caterpillars make for 

 themselves are perfect retreats; they are screened in 

 them from the injuries of the air, and are all closely 

 shut up in times, of inaction or idleness; but they go 

 out at certain hours to seek th.ir nourishment. They 

 feed on the leaves which surround them, which they 

 consume one after another : they often go to a great dis- 

 tance from tj.eir dwelling, and by different turnings. 

 However, they can always find it again, when they have 

 occasion : nature has provided them with a method for 

 regaining their lodging, which answers exactly to that 

 used by THESEUS for fetching ATUADNJK out of the 

 labyrinth. We pave our ways ; our caterpillars line 

 theirs with tapestry : they never walk but on silk car- 

 pets. All the paths that lead to their nest are covered 

 \lith silk threads : these threads form tracks of a glossy 

 white, which are at least two or three lines in width. 

 By pursuing these tracks in a row, they never lose their 

 way, how intricate soever the turnings and windings of 

 their passage may be. By putting a finger on the 

 track, we should intersect the path, and throw the cater- 

 pillars into the greatest perplexity : they stop on a sud- 



