THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 131 



'T is endless to tell you what the curious search- 

 ers into Nature's productions have observed of 

 these worms and flies; but yet I shall tell you 

 what Aldrovandus, our Topsel, and others say of 

 the palmer- worm, or caterpillar : that whereas 

 others content themselves to feed on particular 

 herbs or leaves, for most think those very leaves 

 that gave them life and shape give them a particu- 

 lar feeding and nourishment, and that upon them 

 they usually abide, yet he observes that this is 

 called a pilgrim or palmer-worm for his very wan- 

 dering life and various food ; not contenting him- 

 self, as others do, with any one certain place for 

 his abode, nor any certain kind of herb or flower 

 for his feeding, but will boldly and disorderly wan- 

 der up and down, and not endure to be kept to a 

 diet, or fixed to a particular place. 



Nay, the very colors of caterpillars are, as one 

 has observed, very elegant and beautiful. I shall, 

 for a taste of the rest, describe one of them, which 

 I will some time the next month show you feeding 

 on a willow-tree, and you shall find him punctually 

 to answer this description : his lips and mouth 

 somewhat yellow, his eyes black as jet, his fore- 

 head purple, his feet and hinder parts green, his 

 tail two-forked and black ; the whole body stained 

 with a kind of red spots, which run along the neck 

 and shoulder-blade, not unlike the form of Saint 

 Andrew's cross, or the letter X, made thus cross- 

 wise, and a white line drawn down his back to his 

 tail, all which add much beauty to his whole body. 



