248 BIRDS IN TOWN AND VILLAGE 



the traveller's snake, he erects himself on the tip 

 of his tail and sways about in empty space, 

 vaguely feeling for something, he knows not 

 what. And the mechanical tortrix that rolls up 

 a leaf for garment and food, and preys on his 

 own case and shelter until he has literally eaten 

 himself stark naked; after which he rolls up a 

 second leaf, and so on progressively. Thus in his 

 larval life does he symbolize some restless nation 

 that makes itself many successive constitutions 

 and forms of government, in none of which it 

 abides long; but afterwards some higher thing, 

 when he rests motionless, in form like a sarco- 

 phagus, whence the infolded life emerges to haunt 

 the twilight a grey ghost moth. There is no 

 end to rolled-up leaves, and to the variety of 

 creatures that are housed in them; for, just as 

 the "insect tribes of human kind" in all places 

 and in all ages, while seeking to improve their 

 condition, independently hit on the same means 

 and inventions, so it is with these small six-legged 

 people; and many species in many places have 

 found out the comfort and security of the green 

 cylinder. 



So many did I open that I at last grew tired 



