Spinning Caterpillars. 



365 



the preceding, they are more worthy of notice, from the 

 strong and excellent quality of their silk, which Reaumur was 

 of opinion might be advantageously manufactured. Their 

 nest consists of more chambers than one, but is furnished 

 with a main entrance, through which the colonists conduct 

 their foraging processions. 



[In the accompanying illustration is shown a nest of the 



Nest of Processionary Caterpillars > Cnethocampa and Calosoma). 



Processionary caterpillar, part of which has been torn away 

 to show the interior. Inside may be set n the larva of a certain 

 beetle (Calosoma syc^phanta), which feeds on these caterpillars, 

 and one of the beetles is seen below in the act of ascending 

 the tree. This beetle, although exceedingly scarce in England, 

 is very common on the Continent, and trees have been cleared 

 of Processionary caterpillars by the simple process of putting 

 a few female beetles upon the branches.] 



