124 NATURE STUDY LESSONS FOR PRIMARY GRADES 



movements well, it is put into a glass which is cov- 

 ered with netting or perforated paper. Two or three 

 times a day the children supply it with fresh leaves, 

 removing the wilted ones and occasionally cleaning 

 the glass. The little captive seems quite contented 

 so long as it has plenty of fresh food of the kind that 

 it likes best, and a good appetite. 



Often we find caterpillars on the walks or in the 

 road; these must be tested with a variety of food 

 until leaves are found which they will eat. The 

 hairy caterpillars which I found this summer con- 

 tented themselves with the leaves of the smartweed 

 or a closely allied plant. The plantain was, also, 

 accepted by several. But whenever possible to know 

 its choice, the caterpillar has been fed the food which 

 it likes best. 



Some of the caterpillars may begin spinning, or 

 otherwise changing, the day on which they are cap- 

 tured. When we find one spinning at school, we 

 pass the glass to the children for their inspection, 

 taking care not to disturb the little worker. Some 

 lesson may suffer for this interruption, but the chil- 

 dren have a bit of experience all their own, which 

 they would not care to part with, and school is 

 made pleasanter for this little break in the routine. 



