VORACITY OP LARVJ3. 189 



due weight appropriated to it), and the consequent discovery 

 of the natural system, can be obtained : thus the larvae of 

 the cockchafer, and other lamellicorn beetles, represent a 

 full-grown lulus, in its peculiar mode of rolling itself into a 

 coil on one side ; and the same analogy is exhibited by the 

 larvfe of the sawflies. It would lead me too far to enter 

 more at length into these views, which, however, it would 

 have been improper to have entirely overlooked. 



I have said that it is during the larva state that the 

 chief supply of nutriment is taken by the larva. It will 

 be proper, therefore, to enter into a few particulars rela- 

 tive to the voracity of insects at this period of their exist- 

 ence, and which, in proportion to their size, far exceeds that 

 which is exhibited by any of the larger animals. Thus, 

 Redi discovered that the larvae of the flesh-fly had become, in 

 the space of twenty-four hours, at least two hundred times 

 heavier than at first. And the Count Dandolo gives the fol- 

 lowing as the result of the most exact calculations made 

 from the observations of the cultivators of silk, who know 

 the exact weight of the leaves devoured by the caterpillars ; 

 1609 and a half pounds weight of leaves being consumed by 

 the progeny raised from an ounce weight of eggs. 



First age, 6 Ibs. of sorted leaves, 14 Ibs. refuse. 



Second age, 18 3 " 



Third age, 60 9 " 



Fourth age, 180 27 " 



Fifth age, 1098 102 " 



105 allowed for evaporation. 



1362 + 2474 = 16094 Ibs. 



Deduct fur- 

 ther allow- 

 ance for lit- 1554 

 ter, uneaten 

 leaves, &c. 



12064 Ibs. actually devoured. 



