THE CATERPILLAR AND THE MOTH 



structure. On account of its large size, as compared with 

 the size of the cocoon, the caterpillar is forced to double 

 on itself to fit its self-imposed cell. Most of its hairs, how- 

 ever, are brushed off and become interlaced with the 

 threads to form a part of the cocoon fabric. When the 

 spinning is finished, the caterpillar ejects a yellowish, 

 pasty liquid from its intestine, which it smears all over the 

 inner surface of the case; but the substance spreads 

 through the meshes of the silk, where it quickly dries and 

 gives the starchy stiffness to the walls of the finished 

 cocoon. It readily crumbles into a yellow powder, which 

 becomes dusted over the caterpillar within and floats off in 

 a small yellow cloud whenever a cocoon is pulled loose 

 from its attachments. 



The cocoon is the last resting place of the caterpillar. If 

 the insect lives, it will come out of its prison as a moth, 

 leaving the garments of the worm behind. It may, how- 

 ever, be attacked by parasites that will shortly bring about 

 its destruction. But even if it goes through the period of 

 change successfully it must remain in the cocoon about 

 three weeks. In the meantime it will be of interest to learn 

 something of the structure of a caterpillar, the better to 

 understand some of the details of the process of its trans- 

 formation. 



The Structure and Physiology of the Caterpillar 



A caterpillar is a young moth that has carried the idea 

 of the independence of youth to an extreme degree, but 

 which, instead of rising superior to its parents, has de- 

 generated into the form of a worm. An excellent theme 

 this would furnish to those who at present are bewailing 

 what they believe to be a shocking tendency toward an 

 excess of independence on the part of the young of the 

 human species; but the moral aspect of the lesson some- 

 what loses its force when we learn that this freedom of the 

 caterpillar from parental restraint gives advantages to 

 both young and adults and therefore results in good to 



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