" PROFESSOR WIGGLER " 



75 



which he had eaten to the mid rib. As I ap- 

 proached he ceased eating, and began to wag his 

 ■upraised head and body vehemently, and I prompt- 

 ly named him Wiggler, subsequently adding the 

 " professor " for special reasons which I do not 

 now recall. Careful search about the bush led to 

 the discovery of a dozen or 

 more of the caterpillars, all 

 about the same size ; and 

 such was their novelty among 

 the young insect-collectors 

 that wigglers now became 

 all the rage, and were at a 

 premium on trade. The li- 

 lac-bushes of the town were 

 scoured for caterpillars, and 

 there was suddenly a " cor- 

 ner" on wigglers. A Pro- 

 fessor Wiggler was now 



worth two bull's - eyes, and even two classical 

 Polyphemuses, or three Attacus promeihetis co- 

 coons were considered only a just and dignified 

 ■equivalent for a full - grown specimen of the 

 new professor. For those which I had first 

 found proved to be mere infants. As they 

 waxed fat and healthy and lively on their daily 

 supply of fresh lilac leaves, they soon reached 

 tne length of quite an inch and a half, and their 

 humps and zigzag outline were proportionately 



