30 THE PROCESSIONARY CATERPILLAR 

 and therefore tender ; but whatever the 

 reason, the fact remains, they will quit not 

 only the tree but sometimes leave the planta- 

 tion and travel a considerable distance before 

 arriving at their destination. Now, as it is 

 absolutely necessary to the existence of the 

 species that the larvae keep in close company, 

 it follows that when making a journey for the 

 purpose of constructing a new home, an act 

 which can only be accomplished by their com- 

 bined efforts, they must on no account, so to 

 speak, lose sight of one another. But, like all 

 lepidopterous larvae, these creatures are sight- 

 less, though probably sensitive to light. What 

 is it that takes the place of sight ? I beheve 

 it to be the clairvoyant faculty of subconscious 

 mind. In any case the larvae do not act blindly, 

 but start off in single file, the head of one 

 caterpillar close to but not touching the tail 

 of the one in front. In this order they are seen 

 to travel down the trunk of the tree and take 

 the open ground, crossing dusty roads and 

 surmounting such obstacles as chance in the 

 way. No halt occurs, unless it be that the 

 band of processionists is disrupted by some 

 accident. Then the column is held up until 

 the surviving members re-form, when, the 

 broken link being made good, the march 

 continues as before. 



