216 A COUNTRY READER. 



The changes in growth are going on unseen, 

 working according to fixed laws, working on 

 to the moment when the transformation is 

 revealed to our eyes. 



Life History of Insects. 



In the egg, under the microscope, the changes 

 and .growths can be seen till the caterpillar crawls 

 forth. The caterpillar almost directly it is 

 hatched begins eating as hard as it can eat, and 

 an enormous and unsatisfied appetite it seems to 

 possess. Its first meal often consists of its dis- 

 carded egg shell. It naturally increases in size, 

 and the skin has to stretch to allow for its 

 growth. Then a time comes when the skin can 

 stretch no more, and so it cracks, and the cater- 

 pillar or larva crawls forth clad in a bright new 

 coat. 



After this moult, as it is called, the cater- 

 pillar is soft and languid. It soon recovers 

 itself, however, and begins to eat with a bigger 

 appetite than ever. These moults generally 

 occur about three times, sometimes oftener. 



The first moult usually takes place about 

 twelve days after hatching, a second a week 

 after that, the third six to eight days later 

 still. 



After each moult the insect consumes larger 



