HOW TO FISH FOR TROUT. 1 59 



some have sixteen feet, some less, and some have none ; but 

 as our Topsel hath with great diligence observed, those which 

 have none move upon the earth, or upon broad leaves, their 

 motion being not unlike to the waves of the sea. Some of 

 them, he also observes to be bred of the eggs of other cater- 

 pillars, and that those in their time turn to be butterflies ; 

 and again, that their eggs turn the following year to be 

 caterpillars. And some affirm, that every plant has his par- 

 ticular fly or caterpillar, which it breeds and feeds. I have 

 seen, and may therefore affirm it, a green caterpillar or worm, 

 as big as a small peascod, which had fourteen legs, eight on 

 the belly, four under the neck, and two near the tail. It was 

 found on a hedge of privet, and was taken thence, and put 

 into a large box, and a little branch or two of privet put to 

 it, on which I saw it feed as sharply as a dog gnaws a bone: 

 it lived thus five or six days, and thrived, and changed the 

 colour two or three times ; but, by some neglect in the 

 keeper of it, it then died, and did not turn to a fly ; but if 

 it had lived, it had doubtless turned to one of those flies 

 that some call flies of prey, which those that walk by the 

 rivers may, in summer, see fasten on smaller flies, and, I 

 think, make them their food. And *t is observable, that as 

 there be these flies of prey, which be very large, so there be 

 others very little, created, I think, only to feed them, and 

 breed out of I know not what ; whose life, they say, nature 

 intended not to exceed an hour ; and yet that life is thus 

 made shorter by other flies, or by accident. 1 



It is endless to tell you what the curious searchers into 

 nature's productions have observed of these worms and 

 flies ; but yet I shall tell you what Aldrovandus, b our Topsel, 

 and others say of the palmer-worm, or caterpillar, that 



