236 A LEAF-TENT. 



from its old one, its first operation was to eat through one of 

 the two outer membranes which enclose the pulp of the leaf, 

 and then, by consuming the latter, to make a cavity large 

 enough to contain its body. When thus lodged between the 

 two membranes of the leaf, rendered transparent by removal 

 of the pulp, the subsequent movements of. the little artificer 

 were easily watched, and proved not a little interesting as it 

 proceeded to make its tent with the membranes thus prepared, 

 using its mandibles (or jaws) as a tailor his scissors. This 

 operation, as remarked by Eeaumur ; is rendered by the 

 particular curves required, one of no less nicety than the cut- 

 ting out of a coat, the membranes having to be shaped con- 

 vex on one side, concave on the other, and at one end twice 

 as large as on the opposite. Beginning at the broadest 

 extremity, the insect gently bent the membranes on each side, 

 by pressing them with its body thrown into a curve. When 

 thus shaped, but before cutting them, it proceeded to join the 

 two edges, securing them firmly with silk, before it made a 

 single incision to detach them. 



" Having thus joined the two edges along one of the sides, 

 it inserted its head on the outside of the joining, first at one 

 end, then at the other, gnawing the fibres till that entire side 

 was separated. It proceeded in the same manner with .the other, 

 joining the edges before it cut them; and when it arrived at 

 the last fibre, the sole remaining support of its now finished 

 tent, it took the precaution, before snipping it, to moor the 



