252 Insect Architecture. 



with a life-boat, in which, when it chanced to be blown into 

 the water, it might sail safely ashore and regain its native 

 tree ? 



LEAF-MINING CATERPILLARS. 



The process of mining between the two membranes of 

 a leaf is carried on to a farther extent by minute caterpillars 

 allied to the tent-makers above described. The tent-maker 

 never deserts his house, except when compelled, and there- 

 fore can only mine to about half the length of his own 

 body ; but the miners now to be considered make the mine 

 itself their dwelling-place, and as they eat their way, they 

 lengthen and enlarge their galleries. "A few of these mining 

 caterpillars are the progeny of small weevils (Curculionidce), 

 some of two-winged flies (Di/ptera), but the greater number 

 are produced from a genus of minute moth (CEcophora, 

 LATR.), which, when magnified, appear to be amongst the 

 most splendid and brilliant of Nature's productions, vying 

 even with the humming-birds and diamond-beetles of the 

 tropics in the rich metallic colours which bespangle their 

 wings. Well may Bonnet call them "tiny miracles of 

 Nature," and regret that they are not en grand.* 



There are few plants or trees whose leaves may not, 

 at some season of the year, be found mined by these cater- 

 pillars, the track of whose progress appears on the upper 

 surface in winding lines. Let us take one of the most 

 common of these for an example, that of the rose-leaf, 

 produced by the caterpillar of Bay's golden-silver spot 

 (Argyromiges Eayella ? CURTIS), of which we have just 

 gathered above a dozen specimens from one rose-tree. 

 (J. K.) 



It may be remarked that the winding line is black, closely 

 resembling the tortuous course of a river on a map, begin- 

 ning like a small brook, and gradually increasing in breadth 

 .as it proceeds. This representation of a river exhibits, be- 

 sides, a narrow white valley on each side of it, increasing as 

 it goes, till it terminates in a broad delta. The valley is the 



* Bonnet, * Contempl. de la Nature,' part xii. 



