98 OF SOCIABLE CATERPILLARS. 



and solicitude. At length, after having ascertained 

 the pass to be quite impracticable, he resolved upon 

 a counter-march, which was instantly performed with 

 the most surprising regularity. For the whole line 

 in succession advanced to the wheeling point on the 

 brink before they turned, performing the evolution 

 with as perfect precision as the best trained troops, 

 the advancing and retreating lines passing close 

 alongside of each other, and even climbing the same 

 twig, while the front line descended without confu- 

 sion, passing even over each other's bodies without 

 interruption or hesitation. 



" Having completed their descent in the same 

 manner as they had mounted, a new line of direction 

 was taken, which, however, was very soon most 

 alarmingly interrupted by the arrival of a woman 

 leading an ass loaded with brushwood, of which 

 some branches trailed along the path. After the 

 passage of this formidable assailant, I returned with 

 the same anxiety to examine the state of my colony, 

 and found that they had suffered materially from the 

 disaster, and were thrown into the greatest confusion. 

 The line of march had been broken ; a considerable 

 body still followed the leader with a quickened pace ; 

 others, united in parties of three or four, regularly 

 keeping their position in the rear of each other, 

 while their temporary conductor sought, with evident 

 anxiety, to find out the main body, hastening first to 

 the one side, and then to the other. A good many 

 were scattered singly, and much distressed, seemingly 



