OF THE LARVA STATE. 61 



several times. When the larva has attained its 

 full size, it soon afterwards ceases to eat, becomes 

 excessively restless, and searches for a place, fitted 

 to its nature, to which it may retire for the purpose 

 of being- transformed from one state of existence to 

 another. It spins some silky filaments, generally 

 attached to the under side of flowers, the crevice of 

 a wall, or such safe retreat ; and again its skin 

 separates from the body, exhibiting the animal in its 

 third condition. This Linnaeus called the pupa. 



When we know the astonishing numbers of eggs 

 produced by various species of lepidopterous insects, 

 we may wonder what becomes of them, for we see 

 few, comparatively, of the perfect insects to these 

 eggs or even to the caterpillars of some species we 

 meet with. The Creator of all things has, in his 

 wisdom, checked the progress of these destructive 

 larvae, by forming a genus of insects to prey 

 upon them, diminutive in their size when compared 

 to the caterpillars. These are termed Ichneumons 

 by Linnaeus, and Microgaster by the celebrated 

 French entomologist Latreille. Professor Rennie, in 

 treating of these little destructors, says, " It must, 

 have occurred to the least attentive observer of the 

 Cabbage Butterfly, (Pontia brassicte^) that when 

 it ceases to feed, and leaves its natural cabbage to 

 creep up walls and pailings, it is often transformed 

 into a group of little balls of silk, of a fine texture, 

 and a beautiful canary yellow colour ; from each of 

 which there issues, in process of time, a small four- 

 winged fly, (Microgaster glomoratus spinola,') of a 



