96 MOTHS' EGGS. 



of this bracelet. That we may look into its workmanship a 

 little closer, let us cut it from the hedge, with the branch it 

 compasses, and from which we can slip it like a ring. We find 

 on inspection, that each of the beads or eggs comprising it, 

 though round externally, is shaped like the arch stones of a 

 bridge, the whole of them being cemented together in like 

 manner,. and thus rendered so strong, compact, and impervious, 

 as to preserve unharmed through winter's wet and cold, the 

 embryo lives for whose protection it was intended. 



Here close at hand, we have another illustration (but how 

 beautifully varied!) of the same preserving care, exerted 

 through the medium of instinctive agency. On another leaf- 

 less spray of hawthorn, hangs another group of Insect eggs, 

 the embryo progeny of another maternal Moth. These, however, 

 instead of being united, as in the bracelet, with strong cement, 

 are loosely scattered, but by no means carelessly, for they are 

 laid upon an oval silken bed, the warm cocoon, which having, 

 while she was a Chrysalis, served to protect the mother, was 

 converted by the maternal instinct of her mothhood into a winter 

 cradle for her eggs. From these, in the month of -May, will 

 appear a brood of Caterpillars, at first dark and hairy, after- 

 wards black and grey, with bright yellow tufts, and red and 

 yellow spots, and from these, after the usual changes, we shall 

 have a company of Moths called " Vapourers," the females of 

 which are almost wholly destitute of wings. One of these was 

 the layer of the eggs in this cocoon, which furnishes, therefore, 



