80 THE BROOD. 



plied to the mummy-like .state to which the larva is 

 subjected, previous to its becoming a perfect insect, 

 or imago, as it is termed. 



During this state of concealment, various changes 

 happen to the enclosed insect.* The first change in 

 its situation is its ceasing to continue in that coiled 

 position in which it originally lay at the bottom of 

 the cell, and extending itself along its whole length 

 with its head in the direction of the mouth of the 

 cell. The head begins to appear from the inert- 

 looking mass, having a small protuberance, probably 

 the rudiment of the proboscis ; the first lineaments 

 of the feet also appear, though of diminutive size. 

 After the head is formed, and the proboscis prolonged, 

 all the other parts display themselves successively 

 and the worm is changed into the perfect insect, ex- 

 cept that its outer covering is yet white and soft, and 

 has not that dark scaly texture which, as a proper 

 coat of defence, it afterwards acquires. By this trans- 

 formation the larva becomes divested of its cocoon, 

 which is attached so closely to the internal surface 

 of the cell, that it appears to form part of its substance, 

 and adds considerably to its thickness. These linings 

 are sometimes found to the number of seven or eight, 

 adhering to the sides of the cell, and have an injurious 

 effect often, diminishing, as they do, the cell's capa- 

 city, and exciting, by their strong smell, the attacks 

 of moths and other enemies. The number of linings 

 found adhering to a cell, and which may be disjoined 

 by soaking the comb in water, indicates the number 

 * Wildmaa 



