PUSS CATERPILLAR. 89 



little of the crawling worm about them, that one can hardly 

 help regarding them almost as creatures sui generis. Speci- 

 mens of these may be found, next month, upon the poplar, 

 lime, and privet. 



But foremost of our favourites, among their kind, are those 

 wonders of the willow, the gaudy caterpillars of the puss 

 moth,* which sitting up so demurely on their boughs look, 

 even more than the" sphinxes, like animals which " stand " as 

 well as sit " alone, "f After having watched and tended one 

 of these singular creatures from its tiny kittenhood (and then 

 very like a kitten is it) up to the period of its caterpillar 

 growth, we have really missed it from its 'customed seat a 



perch of willow stretched across its box; and whereon,. when 



. 

 nearly arrived at its bulky maturity, we have often upheld its 



painted body, while, with head protruded from its hood-like 

 shoulders, it has set busily to work upon a fresh supply of 

 leafy provender. 



Now only let some of those, who laugh at the idea of fond- 

 ness for a caterpillar, ask themselves if they have never felt 

 fondness for that whereon a caterpillar feeds for a plant we 

 mean that peculiar liking, distinct from general, which we are 

 apt to entertain for a favourite plant of our own. To tend 

 on anything day by day to minister to its benefit for that 

 thing to depend on us for life though perfectly unconscious 

 of its dependence is enough, it can hardly be disputed, 



* Girura vinula. t See vignette to " A Summer's Day Dream." 



