SOCIAL TENEMENTS. 177 



and for their own exclusive accommodation, these are a 

 social race, and labour together at the formation of their nest 

 or hammock, 1 which is composed of greyish silk, and in form 

 irregular, either roundish or angular, according to its situation 

 either in an angle or at the extremity of a branch, the leaves 

 of which are drawn together and included within the walls. 

 The most careless of strollers must often have noticed, towards 

 autumn and through the winter, not only upon oaks, but also 

 upon beech, apple, and pear trees, and very frequently on the 

 rose, large web-like masses of silk, with leaves enclosed, and 

 these are the abodes of which we speak. This common 

 dwelling is partitioned within into chambers for one or for 

 several occupants, which communicate by doorways. When 

 the frosts commence, the silken walls, both outer and inner, 

 are thickened by new layers of tapestry, and thus snugly 

 fortified, their inmates, who are also wrapped in sleep, bid 

 defiance to the autumn gales and cutting blasts of winter. 

 When invited abroad by the genial breath of spring, and the 

 tender leafy provender which spring provides them, the mem- 

 bers of this luxurious community begin to make excursions 

 from their protecting tabernacle; and on these occasions the 

 leader of the band always lays down for. the succeeding steps 

 of his companions a strip of woven carpet. This silken clue 

 serving as a guide, the caterpillar-ramblers, however far and 

 wide their predatory travels, have no difficulty in returning to 

 their home, to whose shelter they are always driven by heavy 

 rain or scorching sun. Both the hammocks and habits of 

 these social " Brown-Tails" nearly resemble those of the black, 

 scarlet, and white caterpillars of the " Gold-Tails," also com- 

 mon on the oak. It is observed by Reaumur (speaking of 

 these treaders upon silk), " Nous pavons nos grands chemins ; 

 elles tapissent les leurs." 



Where now is our corps of seeming soldiers? the body 



1 Vignette. 



