THE cmcoE. 509 



a leaf of such great comparative size. When the little cater- 

 pillar is contrasted with the leaf on which it is at work, the 

 contrast is almost ludicrous, for it seems nearly as impossible 

 for so little a creature to roll up so large a leaf as for a man to 

 roll up one of the armour-plates of an iron-clad ship. The 

 manner by which this task is achieved is described on the above- 

 mentioned page, and the reader will be the better able to under- 

 stand the description if he compares it with the illustration. 



The moth which has inhabited this leaf is called OracUlaria 

 semifascia. 



To return to our leaf-miners. 



Although the greater number of these insects belong to the 

 lepidoptera, the rule is by no means an universal one. Many 

 beetles are thus parasitic within the leaves of plants, and, as a 

 general rule, they belong to the family of Curculionidae, or 

 weevils. There are also several species of dipterous insects 

 which have this habit, among which may be named the Chby- 

 SANTHEMUM Flt (Tepkritts artemisite), which burrows into the 

 leaves of the flower. There is also a genus of flies called 

 Phytomyza, i.e. Plant-sucker, the different species of which 

 select particular plants and burrow between the membranes of 

 their leaves. The holly, for example, is infested by one species, 

 the honeysuckle by another, and the common hart's tongue by 

 a third. 



Wb must now glance at a few of the insects that are parasitic 

 upon other animals. Their numbers are veiy great, but we 

 must restrict ourselves to those which construct some sort of a 

 habitation. 



The only insect which can be said to be parasitic on man, and 

 at the same time to form a habitation, is the celebrated Chigoe 

 (Pulex penetrans), otherwise called the Jiggeb, or Earth Fly. 

 This terrible pest is a native of Southern America and the West 

 Indian islands, and is too well known, especially by the negroes 

 and natives. 



This insect, which is closely allied to the common flea, and 

 much resembles it in general appearance, contrives to hide itself 

 under the nails of the fingers or toes, usually the latter. Having 

 gained this point of vantage, it proceeds very gradually to make 



