after beinfr removed from their suspensories, also r 

 about and nianilcst great uneasiness.* 



}3ut this is only one mode by which chrysalic 

 are suspended; i\)V nature, rich in variety, has tau^ 

 others to eniiiloy a ditl'erent mechanism, and consi 

 crably more coni|)licated, not only li.xing themseh 

 by the tail, but throwing around their body a gin 

 otsiik, which l)inds it tirmly to the spot selected, a 

 frequently in a horizontal position. Amongst thof 

 the caterpillars of the pretty butterflies called by ci 

 lectors hairstreaks {T/icckv., Fabu.), are remarkab 

 both for their resemblance in shape to the cornm 

 woodlouse (Oniscits), and for their singular procee 

 ings. In order to construct a silken cincture around t 

 middle of its body, after it has secured itself" at the ts 

 the Thecla draws back its head, and j)ushing out 

 spinneret on one side, forms an arched thread by pas 

 ing it over to the other side. It then insinuates 

 head under this thread, and pressing the fore part of 

 body down as closelv as possible, it contrives to pla 

 the girth over its middle. This circumstance is the mo 

 remarkable when it is considered that the silk is 

 fine as scarcely to be distinguishable to the eye, a 

 that the back of the caterpillar over which it has to pa 

 is thickly bcstudded with spines. The caterpillars, i 

 deed, of this whole family [Lycauceida', Leacu 

 which includes our splendid blue and copjjcr buttf 

 flies, seem to follow the same process, re[)eating 

 from thirty to fifty times, in order to strengthen t 

 band. As the caterpillars of the family just me 

 tioned are but seldom found, those who are desiro 

 of observing the formation of the cincture of a chr 

 salis may readily gratify their curiosity by watchii 

 a brood of any of the native while butterflies, 

 those of the cabbage or of the liaw thorn (Pia 

 Cratagi, Stephens). A caterpillar of this kin 



* Donnet, CEiivreo, vol. ii, p. 109, 



