CH. 1.] WHAT WERE THEY? 149 
the use to which the missing pieces had been ap- 
plied was made apparent. They were adhering 
flat-wise to the under sides of the leaves, and from 
their puffy appearance, evidently formed coverings 
to some bulky substances. These, on my stripping 
off their covers, proved to be large fat grubs 
(apparently at least two thirds of an inch long) 
each comfortably tucked in by his green sheet, 
which was closely cemented to the leaf forming 
the bed under which he reposed. 
As to the insect to which these larvee owed their 
existence I must confess myself much in the dark. 
Not having, at the time when I discovered them, 
paid as much attention as I ought to this branch 
of Natural History, I was not then aware that 
there was anything very uncommon in this dis- 
position of the larvee, and in consequence unfor- 
tunately neglected to secure a specimen or make 
accurate measurements. Since then I have spared 
no pains to ascertain what the insect was, and have 
applied for information on the subject to some 
of our most distinguished entomologists, hitherto 
however, strange to say, without success. Divers 
species, Donacia, Hydrocampa stagnalis, Nym- 
phosolis, &c. &c. have been suggested, but in 
no instance does the manner in which the 
