244 Insect Architecture. 



much in the shape of a minute goldfish. They are convex 

 on the back, where the indentations of the leaf out of which 

 they have been cut add to the resemblance, by appearing like 

 the dorsal fins of the fish. By depriving one of those cater- 

 pillars common on the hawthorn of its tents, for the sake of 

 experiment, we put it under the necessity of making another ; 

 for, as Pliny remarks of the clothes-moth, they will rather 

 die of hunger than feed unprotected. When we placed it on 



A Caterpillar's tent upon a leaf of the elm. a, a, The part of the leaf from which the 

 tent has been eut out; i>, the tent itself. 



a fresh hawthorn leaf, it repeatedly examined every part of 

 it, as if seeking for its lost tent, though, when this was put 

 in its way, it would not again enter it ; but, after some delay, 

 commenced a new one. (J. E.) 



For this purpose, it began' to eat through one of the two 

 outer membranes which compose the leaf and enclose the 

 pulp (parenchyma), some of which, also, it devoured, and 

 then thrust the hinder part of its body into the perforation. 

 The cavity, however, which it had formed, being yet too 

 small for its reception, it immediately resumed the task of 

 making it larger. By continuing to gnaw into the pulp 

 between the membranes of the leaf (for it took the greatest 

 care not to puncture or injure the membranes themselves), it 

 soon succeeded in mining cut a gallery rather larger than 

 was sufficient to contain its body. We perceived that it did 

 not throw out as rubbish the pulp it dug into, but devoured 

 it as food a circumstance not the least remarkable in its 

 proceedings. 



As the two membranes of leaf thus deprived of the 

 enclosed pulp appeared white and transparent, every move- 

 ment of the insect within could be distinctly seen ; and it 



