ABOUT HOME 7 



and remain in it during cold and stormy weather. As the 

 caterpillars grow, they make their house larger. They 

 have a very good appetite, and if they happen to live on a 

 small tree, they sometimes strip it entirely of its leaves. 



In about live or six weeks they are full grown. Describe 

 some full-grown specimens. Note their size, color, hairs, 

 legs, etc. Now they leave the trees and hide separately in 



FIG. 1. APPLE-TREE TENT CATERPILLAR. 

 Eggs, tent, caterpillar, cocoons, and moth. All reduced. After Comstock. 



some sheltered place, as under the cap-boards of fences. 

 Here they spin a cocoon of yellow silk, and in this the 

 caterpillar changes into a chrysalis. 



Within two or three weeks the chrysalides change to 

 moths, which break through the cocoon and escape. The 

 moths do not eat anything; they lay their eggs and then 

 die, after they have lived only a few days. Have you ever 

 seen butterflies eating anything ? What does the chrysalis 

 eat ? You may find these caterpillars on various trees, but 

 especially on the apple tree, the wild cherry, and the wild 

 plums. There are other species of tent caterpillar which 



Let the children plant beans, cucumbers, etc., outdoors or in pots and 

 boxes. 



