MOTIONS OF INSECTS. 291 
of the ant-lion (Myrmeleon)—with the exception of one 
species, which moves in the common way—always 
walks backwards, even when its legs are cut off. 
The jumpers amongst pedate larvee, as far as they are 
known, are not very numerous, and will not detain you 
long. When the caterpillar of Noctua Quadra, F., a 
moth not uncommon, would descend from one branch 
or leap to another, it approaches to the edge of the leaf 
on which it is stationed, bends its body together, and 
retiring a little backwards, as if to take a good situation, 
leaps through the air, and, however high the jump, 
alights on its legs like a cat. That of another moth 
(Pyralis rostralis, F.) will also leap to a considerable 
height?. 
Another species of motion, which is peculiar to 
larvee,—their mode I mean of climbing,—as it merits 
particular attention, will occupy more time. I have al- 
ready related so many extraordinary facts in their history, 
that I promise myself you will not disbelieve me if I 
assert that insects either use ladders for this purpose, or 
a single rope. You may often have seen the caterpillar 
of the common. cabbage-butterfly climbing up the walls 
of your house, and even over the glass of your windows. 
When next you witness this last circumstance, if you ob- 
serve closely the square upon which the animal is travel- 
ling, you will find that, like a snail, it leaves a visible 
track behind it. Examine this with your microscope, 
and you will see that it consists of little silken threads, 
which it has spun in a zigzag direction, forming a rope- 
ladder, by which it ascends a surface it could not other- 
wise adhere to. The silk as it comes from the spinners 
4 Rosel, I. iv. 112, vi. 14, 
U2 
