Carpenter-Caterpillars. 207 



of most singular materials. A lady, Miss Since, was very 

 successful in a series of experiments which she made with 

 these insects, forcing them to make tubes of different colours 

 and patterns, by supplying them with coloured sand, pieces 

 of stained glass of various hues, gold dust, and similar 

 materials. Although there "was scarcely any material which 

 they would not use, they seemed to consider a certain 

 amount of angularity as essential, and rejected any object, 

 such as a bead, of which the surface was perfectly rounded, 

 while they would accept the same, if it were broken or 

 indented. 



When the caddis-grub has ceased from feeding, and is 

 about to pass into the perfect stage, it spins over the mouth 

 of the tube a strong silken web. This web is made in quite 

 a pretty pattern, and being woven with rather wide meshes, 

 it allows the water to flow through the tube while it pre- 

 vents any aquatic foes from penetrating and destroying the 

 pupa. 



The remaining figures of the illustration represent tubes, 

 around which are built a quantity of small shells. Generally, 

 stones are mixed with the shells ; but in some cases, shells 

 seem to be almost the only material.] 



CARPENTER-CATERPILLARS. 



Insects, though sometimes actuated by an instinct ap- 

 parently blind, unintelligent, or unknown to themselves, 

 manifest in other instances a remarkable adaptation of 

 means to ends. We have it in our power to exemplify 

 this in a striking manner by the proceedings of the cater- 

 pillar of a goat-moth (Cossus ligniperda) which we kept till 

 it underwent its final change. 



This caterpillar, which abounds in Kent and many other 

 parts of the island, feeds on the wood of willows, oaks, 

 poplars, and other trees, in which it eats extensive galleries ; 

 but it is not contented with the protection afforded by these 

 galleries during the colder months of winter, before the 

 arrival of which it scoops out a hollow in the tree, if it do 

 not find one ready prepared, sufficiently large to contain its 



