188 HOMES ■WITHOUT HANDS. 



larger specimen is so loosely made that it collapses under the 

 least pressure. The other two are intermediate in point of size, 

 but precisely similar in point of construction. Besides them 

 there is a specimen of the cocoon in which the creature undergoes 

 its last change. This is of far stronger texture than either of 

 the others, being quite hard, like papier-mach^, and dark and 

 polished within. 



Generally, just before the moth emerges, the chrysalis works 

 itself along, so that it partially projects from the hole, thus 

 enabling the insect to escape at once into the outer world. In 

 some instances, however, this is not the case, and in the present 

 specimen the empty chrysalis shell may be seen, its shattered 

 sides showing the manner in which the inclosed moth made its 

 exit. The hole through which the moth emerged from the 

 cocoon is of a wonderfully small size, considering the dimensions 

 of the perfect insect, and its sides are very ragged and irregular, 

 like the other cocoons, it is strongly imbued with the charac- 

 teristic odour, which has attached itself so strongly to my fingers 

 that careful ablution will be needed before I shall venture to 

 produce my hands in society. 



The course taken by the larva is most erratic. Sometimes it 

 travels just below the bark, and then turns suddenly, and dives 

 into the very heart of the tree. It is much given to making 

 these sudden changes, and frequently returns nearly on its former 

 track, a mere shell of wood dividing the two passages. The 

 winter cocoons may be found in various parts of the tree, some 

 deeply buried in the wood, others near the exterior. The pupal 

 cocoon is, as far as I know from personal experience, very near 

 the exterior of the tree, so that when the perfect insect is freed 

 from its enwrapments, it is obliged to traverse only a very short 

 distance before finding itself in the open air. 



To keep this larva until it passes through its different stages 

 is by no means a difi&cult process, and demands less trouble than 

 is given by the generality of caterpUlars. The larva is easily 

 found ; for whenever an old willow-tree has a powerful scent, 

 and exhibits certain round holes in its bark, the Goat Moth 

 caterpillar is sure to be an inmate. Cut down the tree, and with 

 a saw and chisel break it up, until the caterpillars are found. The 

 chisel is used as much for ripping as for cutting ; and the use of 

 the mallet shoiild be avoided as much as possible, lest the jarring 



