INSECTA. 435 



e. g., the silk-worm and some other moths, as also during the maggot- 

 state, e. g., the wasp, common bee, humble-bee, form secreting organs for 

 a second nidus. These are glandular tubes for the secretion of a slimy 

 mucus, which is capable of being drawn out to a considerable length, 

 and when exposed to the air, forms immediately a solid substance. 

 Others, as many of the butterfly-kind, have not more of this substance 

 than is enough to form a single thread, to suspend them to some wall or 

 ceiling ; while others, as the common fly, gnat, beetle, are not provided 

 with any such organs, but go immediately into the chrysalis state, as 

 sometimes the silk -worm does when it is weak. 



When about to accomplish this change they cease to feed. Those 

 that were fed by their parent are no longer so provided, and all pre- 

 pare for the chrysalis state. Some go to proper places, as the sides of 

 walls, ceilings of old houses, &c. : others make their way under ground, 

 hollowing out an oval cavity for themselves, and lining it with their 

 silk : others, beetles, wasps, &c, stay in the same nidus in which they 

 lived in the maggot-state ; some of these line tbe cell with a land of 

 silk, as the common bee : the humble-bee may be said to spin and 

 weave a complete cell for itself, covering its mouth with the same sub- 

 stance ; others, as the wasp, hornet, &c, only complete their cell by 

 covering its mouth. Some, as the silk-worm, work a nidus for them- 

 selves ; while others, as the common fly, get into a dry place and pass 

 into the second embryo state without any nidus ; the ants pass into 

 their chrysalis in the place where they have lived in the maggot-state, 

 where no nidus had been formed either by their parents or themselves. 



Those which spin a cell for themselves, as the silk- worm, generally 

 before they begin to spin, empty their stomachs and intestines : but I 

 believe this is common to every other caterpillar, as also to the maggots. 

 Many, as the bee-tribe, in which I include the wasp, &c, which had 

 been fed by their parents or nurses while in the maggot- state, are not 

 forsaken by them. 



However, the last action of the bee is to cover with wax the web on 

 the mouth of the cell which the young bee had woven. The ant takes 

 care of the chrysalis the whole time it is in that state. Insects do not 

 immediately pass into the chrysalis state, many having a tedious opera- 

 tion to perform, viz. making their nest, as does the silk-worm. They 

 first become inactive, indolent, without eating food : in this state of 

 inactivity there are certain parts formed, viz. the wings and adult legs ; 

 and the body is beginning to form itself into different divisions, re- 

 sembling a kind, of middle state between the maggot and chrysalis. 

 When it goes into the chrysalis state, the caterpillar casts its last coat, 

 and exposes a gradation between it and the complete insect ; such as 



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