fixed to the top of the cone, and the other to its base, 

 or the flat part of the leaf. Look narrowly at the 

 place .where the thread joins to the fiat part of the 

 leaf: you will perceive a. small piece in it ex- 

 actly circular, bored in the thick part of the leaf, 

 and that seems to conceal some secret design. This 

 you will find in many cotfms ; but it often happens that 

 you will see in that place a little round hole, well 

 turned, that appears to have been made by a gimllet. 

 The circular piece is the work of the caterpillar, it has 

 skilfully gnawed that part of the leaf; and has cut a 

 little piece of it in a circular form, which it has been 

 very careful to leave in its place. You seem to discern 

 the end of this labour. It is contrived for a private 

 passage for the caterpillar to go out at, at the same 

 time that it prevents the entrance of any mischievous 

 insects. Our industrious caterpillar then makes a little 

 door into its celi : tbe door is not to be opened till 

 after the last metamorphosis. The winding parts of it 

 being interwoven with the leaf, .it remains as it were 

 subservient to it. In issuing from the cone the cater- 

 pillar descends by the whole length of the thread, 

 which holds it suspended ; it follows the direction of it, 

 arrives at the door, and bursts it open by pushing its 

 head against it. These coffins, which you see pierced 

 through, have been abandoned by the caterpillars. 



29. Our grain is liable to be eaten by a very small 

 insect, that lodges within it, and is there metamor- 

 phosed. The covering of corn is a kind of very close 

 box, which the caterpillar lines with silk. But the 

 caterpillar is provided with no instrument to pierce 

 through this box, and would remain prisoner therein, 

 if the insect were not instructed how to prepare a pas- 

 sage from it. It proceeds in the same manner as the 

 roller of the ash; it cuts with its teeth a little round 

 place in the covering of the grain, which it is very 

 careful not to di engage entirely from it. The butterfly 

 need only press against this part, in rder to obtain its 

 liberty. 



