SAMOUELLE S 



which the entrance was covered, and went in ; after 

 a short stay it came out again, [and seizing the cater- 

 pillar drew it into the hole and left it there. Then 

 taking some globules of earth, it shoved them one 

 after another into ^the hole, and now and then scrap- 

 ing with its feet as rabbits or terriers do, it threw the 

 loose earth backwards into the hole, and continued 

 to do so with the globules of earth and dust alter- 

 nately till the hole was quite filled, descending at 

 times, as I thought, for the purpose of pressing down 

 and consolidating the earth, and once and again 

 flying to a neighbouring fir tree, perhaps, to procure 

 turpentine to conglutinate the work. When the hole 

 was filled and the surface levelled, so that the en- 

 trance could no longer be discerned, it took two 

 leaves of fir which were lying near, and placed them 

 close to the entrance, as if to mark the spot. Who, 

 says the pious observer, can contemplate such things 

 without admiration and astonishment ; or attribute 

 them to a mere machine !" In this caterpillar the 

 eggs had previously been laid, and it was to serve for 

 food to the young Spheges in their larva state. 



