Weavers and Spinners. 



woven together with silky threads ; while one weaves 

 of silk alone a structure that is exactly like a small snail 

 shell in appearance ; in fact, the first specimens sent 

 to the British Museum were sent as being snail shells 

 to be found in great numbers near Lake Issyk-Kul, 

 in Central Asia. One of these caterpillars with the aid 

 of its jaws cuts little pieces of 

 wood, each piece of the proper 

 length, and these are all woven 

 together lengthwise into a won- 

 derful spiral garment. Another 

 may be found wandering over 

 heaths and grass-lands dressed 

 in a garment made entirely of 

 very accurately cut pieces of leaf. 

 The caterpillar takes a great deal 

 of trouble in making this odd- 

 looking garment, fastening the 

 leaves most neatly together, and 

 arranging them in rows one 

 above the other like a series of 

 little flounces; while to the top 

 of this costume it adds a spiky 

 collar of tiny wood chips, or of 

 blades of grass. One dress has 

 to last the little insect through- Cases of the Basket Worm. 



out the caterpillar stage of its life, and so it must needs 

 from time to time enlarge it. This is done by making 

 a slit part of the way down one side of the dress, and 

 fastening into the gap a fresh piece of material made 

 up of silk and vegetable matter woven together. These 

 caterpillars belong to the Psyche family, and have a very 



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