SILKWORMS. 



123 



and form a common nest, sometimes three feet high, containing 

 about five hundred cocoons. The thread of the tusseh silkworm 

 is likewise valuable. 



FIG. 1:4 i MOTH AND EGGS. 



bcoo.v OF TCSSEH SILKWORM. 



The smaller moths are extremely numerous ; nearly two thou- 

 sand species of them are enumerated as British. Many of these 

 are very beautiful, and many more are highly interesting from 

 the habits of their larvae. Among them we may select 



The Leaf-rollers (Tortriccs)* so named from their habit of rolling up the 

 edges of leaves in various forms, and so fastening them with silk as to make 

 compact tubular cases in which the larvre live (Fig. 1 26). Others, having made 



FIG. 126. LEAF-ROLLING CATERPILLAR. 



a little tent, set it upright on the leaf from which it has been cut. These are 

 everywhere to be found upon our trees and hedges. Others, again, make a 

 domicile by uniting the opposite edges of a leaf, or fastening two leaves to- 



* Tortrix, pi. Tortrices. fern, of Tortor, one li'ho tiuists. 



