INFANCY OF CRABS AND CATERPILLARS 247 



doubling in the middle, and all four doubled-up legs hang 

 down in a bunch. They thus bear a remarkable Hkeness 

 to the bunches of brown scales (the stipules of the foliage 

 leaves), which enclose the buds of the beech and hang down 

 after the latter are unfolded, so that the legs then suggest 

 the appearance of scales, and thus the whole body, from 

 its likeness to the inanimate leaf, escapes the notice of 

 insect-eating animals. 



But so soon as the creature is alarmed, it rears up the 

 fore-part of its body, which gives it a curious likeness to a 

 spider. And the deception is further perfected by the four 

 long legs, which are now made to quiver in the most terrific 

 manner, as if preparation was being made for a bound 

 forward ; and to heighten the effect the hind part of the 

 body is turned forward towards the head, and the two 

 appendages, made to appear as one in the resting position, 

 are now forced apart, giving the effect of a pair of 

 antennae. Thus a monstrous being, unlike anything else 

 on earth, is suddenly brought into existence, and this has 

 commonly so terrifying an effect on predatory birds as 

 to effectually protect the performer from the threatened 

 attack ! 



But these caterpillars are singular even from their 

 birth. For from the moment of hatching they keep a 

 most careful guard over the egg-shell from which they 

 have just escaped. This is, to them, a most important 

 item, providing them, as it does, with the first and only 

 food for seven days : indeed, not until their first moult do 

 they eat anything else ! As soon as they leave the shell 

 they have a good stretch, then begin to nibble portions of 

 its walls. They never leave it for more than an inch or 

 two, and then rapidly scuttle back. If perchance another 

 caterpillar should approach within touch of it a vigorous 



