376 STRANGE DWELLINGS. 



tecting chevaux-de-frise of stems, and lastly a cover of silk, so 

 that the inhabitant is as well protected from weather and foes 

 as can be imagined. 



The next proceeding is to discover the architects of the nests. 

 This is easily done, for some of the architects have assumed 

 their perfect state during the voyage home, while others are 

 preserved by spirits, in which their discoverer has thoughtfully 

 placed some specimens. 



Here I may be allowed to mention that the example set by 

 Mr. W. J. Tomkinson, who sent over these interesting objects, 

 is one which is well worthy of imitation. Residents in other 

 countries are too apt to forget the interests of their own, and 

 they soon become familiar with the objects which at first are 

 new and strange to them, and at last become entirely indifferent. 

 Even when they do take the trouble to collect and send home 

 a few objects, they do so in such a manner that they are almost 

 useless, no description being given of them, and no clue afforded 

 which can help the home-staying student. 



Here, however, proper pains have been taken, and the value 

 of the objects is in consequence multiplied a hundred-fold. A 

 number of nests were sent as they were collected from the 

 branches, and, in order to show that the architect is not confined 

 to one species of tree, they have been carefully selected from 

 several trees, such as the oak, acacia, and alder. My specimens 

 are taken from the last-mentioned tree. Knowing that the pupae 

 would become moths in the course of the voyage, Mr. Tom- 

 kinson placed a number of them in the box, so that a perfect 

 series of the insect has been obtained, namely, the male and 

 female, pupa and larva, some in the dried state and others in 

 spirits, in order that the internal anatomy might be examined. 



Before the male caterpillar changes into a chrysalis it reverses 

 its position, so that the head is close to the orifice which was 

 previously occupied by the tail. When it has completed 

 its change, and is about to issue into the world, it forces itself 

 out of the nest as far as the base of the abdomen. The female 

 never leaves her home, and never changes her attitude, and 

 scarcely changes her form. After she has emerged from the 



