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CHAPTER XI. 



EARTH-MASON CATERPILLARS. 



MANY species of caterpillars are not only skilful in con- 

 cealing themselves in their cocoons, but also in the 

 concealment of the cocoon itself ; so that even when that is 

 large, as in the instance of the death's-head hawk-moth 

 (Acherontla atropos), it is almost impossible to find it. We 

 allude to the numerous class of caterpillars which, previous 

 to their changing into the pupa state, bury themselves in 

 the earth. This circumstance would not be surprising, were 

 it confined to those which are but too well known in gardens, 

 from their feeding upon and destroying the roots of lettuce, 

 chicory, and other plants, as they pass a considerable por- 

 tion of their lives under ground ; nor is it surprising that 

 those which retire under ground during the day, and come 

 abroad to feed in the night, should form their cocoons 

 where they have been in the habit of concealing themselves. 

 But it is very singular and unexpected, that caterpillars 

 which pass the whole of their life on plants and even on 

 trees, should afterwards bury themselves in the earth. 

 Yet, the fact is, that perhaps a greater number make their 

 cocoons under than above ground, particularly those which 

 are not clothed with hair. 



Some of those caterpillars which go into the ground 

 previous to their change make no cocoon at all, but are 

 contented with a rude masonry of earth as a nest for their 

 pupae : into the details of their operations it will not be so 

 necessary for us to go, as into those which exhibit more 

 ingenuity and care. When one of the latter is dug up it 

 has the appearance of nothing more than a small clod of 

 earth, of a roundish or oblong shape, but, generally, by no 

 means uniform. The interior, however, when it is laid 



