36 CONVERSATIONS ON 



thin membrane of the leaf it first cut two 

 pieces just equal in size and of exactly the 

 same shape ; each of these pieces was to form 

 one-half of the cloak, and this he says was 

 done wonderfully fast. He noticed, too, that 

 one end of each piece, that which was meant 

 for the bottom of the cloak, was just twice as 

 long as the other end, which was the top. 

 The insect then placed itself between the two 

 pieces while they were lying flat ; it afterward 

 brought the two sides where the seam was to 

 be, together, and fastened them at certain 

 places, still leaving, however, considerable 

 spaces open. It then began to turn and twist 

 its body about in all directions, until it 

 moulded the pieces into a hollow form to fit. 

 When it found that it would fit its body, it 

 brought the edges of the seam close together 

 through the whole length, and contrived to 

 sew or fasten them so neatly together, that 

 when the gentleman looked, even with a mag- 

 nifying-glass, he said he could hardly find the 

 seam. The whole was lined with the silk 

 spun from itself, and was finished in about 

 twelve hours." 



" Why, this little workman is the strangest 

 of all : but, Uncle Philip, you said there was 



