96 FALSE PARASITES 



close to the twigs, and where a twig or branch is 

 decaying. A hole is left in the cocoon for the 

 passing in and out of the caterpillars, which is 

 always guarded by several large caterpillars. 

 These guards allow only larger caterpillars to pass, 

 preventing all smaller ones which may happen to 

 follow from entering, and appointing for their use 

 a separate place close to the nest, from whence 

 they are led by a larger caterpillar on new excur- 

 sions, to young leaves, the leader returning to its 

 nest. The larger caterpillars deposit faeces in the 

 nest, which, falling among the threads of the 

 cocoouj render the latter more opaque, and more 

 capable of resisting external influences. This 

 closing up happens usually at the end of July or 

 beginning of August. Each caterpillar prepares 

 for itself a separate case or cocoon inside the large 

 cocoon, which is of a gray-yellow color, and silk- 

 like appearance. The single cocoons of the cater- 

 pillars resemble, in the method of their spinning, 

 that of Bombyx mori; they are, however, more 

 oval, smaller, and very rich in the yellow, powdery 

 substance, of which we shall have to speak. The 

 cocoons are formed in one night. The butterfly 

 escapes towards the end of August, by softening 



