LEPID0PTER0TJS INSECTS. 3I9 



ber of their tents is augmented. But these are only- 

 temporary and partial lodgments, constructed for 

 mutual convenience, till the caterpillars are in a 

 condition to build one more spacious, which will be 

 sufficient to contain the whole. After gnawing one- 

 half of the substance of such leaves as happen to be 

 near the end of some twig or small branch, they be- 

 gin their great work. In constructing this new edi- 

 fice, or net, the caterpillars encrust a considerable 

 part of the twig with white silk. In the same man- 

 ner they cover two or three of such leaves as are 

 nearest to the termination of the twig. They thd. 

 spin silken coverings of greater dimensions^ in which 

 they inclose the two or three leaves together with 

 the twig. The nest is now so spacious that it is 

 able to contain the whole community, every indivi- 

 dual of which is employed in the common labour. 

 These nests are too frequently seen in autumn upon 

 the fruit-trees of our gardens. They are still more 

 exposed to observation in winter, when the leaves 

 which formerly concealed many of them are fallen, 

 They consist of large bundles of white silk and wi- 

 thered leaves, without any regular or constant form. 

 Some of them are flat, others roundish ; but none of 

 them are destitute of angles. By different plain co- 

 verings, extended from the opposite sides of leaves, 

 and of the twig, the internal part of the nest is di- 

 vided into a number of different apartments. To 

 each of these, which seem to be very irregular, there 

 are passages by which the caterpillars can either go 

 out in quest of food, or retire in the evening, or dur- 

 ing rainy weather, The silken coverings, by re- 



