POETICAL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE CATERPILLAR. 169 



the margin of the rivulet. On many of them you 

 will perceive, on the upper surface, curious, irregular, 

 and generally tortuous lines, presenting, however, 

 some diversity both in form and colour. These are 

 the indications which tell that the little mining cater- 

 pillars of some of our moths have been at work, and 

 have been there enjoying their appointed food. There 

 is tiuth, as well as poetry, therefore, in the descrip- 

 tion given by Thomson : — 



" The flowery leaf 



Wants not its soft inhabitants. Secure 



Within its winding citadel, the stone 



Holds multitudes. But chief the forest boughs, 



That dance, unnumber'd, to the playful breeze, 



The downward orchard, and the melting pulp 



Of mellow fruit, the nameless nations feed 



Of evanescent insects." — Summer, p. 50, ed. 1803. 



The skilful and deUcate manner in which these 

 little beings conduct their operations, is so truly won- 

 derful, that Young, after the descriptive line, 



" Each flower, each leaf, with its small people swarm'd ;" 



does not hesitate to term the little artisans 



"Tliose puny vouchers of Omnipotence." 



yight Thought, X. 9. 



It must have been the long-continued habit of ob- 

 serving them in their different modes of life, — of 

 watching some assuming the lifeless appearance of 

 twigs of trees ; others, swinging on " their tree- 

 rocked cradles," or excavating their fanciful dwell- 



