INGENUITY OF INSECTS. 69 



house, or tube, in which it lives, of most singular and 

 curious workmanship. 



The body of this insect is 

 composed of nine sections, the 

 sides of which are fringed with 

 cilia, or paddles. The legs 

 are six, all situated near the 

 head, as shown by Fig. 56, 

 which represents the creature naked, or without its 

 case. 



188. It may be observed that this worm, though it is 

 entirely aquatic, is still not well adapted to swimming. Its 

 six legs all close together are specifically -heavier than 

 water, and its long body beset only with a few hairs, 

 would appear better fitted to crawl than to swim. But 

 apparently as a compensation for these defects, the 

 great Author of nature has endowed it with a degree of 

 instinctive knowledge, by means of which, it is able to 

 avoid the evils which would otherwise arise from its con- 

 struction. 



189. The caddis-w T orm constructs for itself a tube or 

 habitation, by means of such materials as it can most 

 easily obtain, and which are fitted to its pur- Fig. 57. 

 pose. Leaves, straws, bits of wood, and shells 



are employed according to the taste, or con- 

 venience of the builder. Fig. 57 shows one 

 of these cases made of a few pieces of leaves, 

 so arranged as somewhat to imitate a Spanish 

 mantle, the head and feet of the insect pro- 

 truding at the upper end. This, like all the 

 other forms which it constructs, is lined with a kind of 

 silk on the inside, and it is by means of the same substance 

 that the different pieces of which these curious habitations 

 are made and fastened together. 



190. By Fig. 58 is shown the worm *% 58. 



covered by a couple of pieces of semi- 

 cylindrical, hollow bark, cemented to- 

 gether. Happening to find two such 

 pieces suitable for the purpose, it has 

 been saved the labor of joining more, 

 as most of its brethren have done 



