OF SOCIABLE CATERPILLARS. 97 



the top of a stone than round its base. When such 

 obstacles occurred, the march, notwithstanding, did 

 not sustain the slightest derangement, as no troops 

 could mark time with greater precision and patience 

 than the rear of the line, while the front was engaged 

 in climbing over any obstacle, or the leader had 

 stopped to examine the difficulty ; the front, in their 

 turn, tarrying until the rear had succeeded in surmount- 

 ing the obstruction which the front had just passed. 

 They were twenty-two in number, and nearly of the 

 same size, except one, considerably larger than the 

 rest, whose place was exactly in the centre of the 

 line. The leader, on the contrary, was rather smaller 

 than any of the rest. A large precipitous stone was 

 in their way ; the leader reared up, moving his head 

 from side to side, as if gazing at it, or willing to 

 reach some corner ; and leading his troop round, he 

 "frequently performed the same examination, until they 

 reach**! a small bush, round the stem of which he 

 ascended, i^e long line following with perfect confi- 

 dence, and by means of a branch of the bush, they 

 attained footing on the stone. 



" Traversing the stone, the opposite side of which 

 was quite precipitous, and pretty high, it became 

 uncommonly interesting to see how this intelligent 

 general would proceed. He examined with accuracy, 

 trying every possible break, during which time the 

 main body remained patiently waiting, and without 

 making the slightest attempt to assist in the examina- 

 tion, which their leader conducted with much activity 



