478 INSTINCT OF INSECTS. 
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remarkable. This little caterpillar feeds upon the elm, 
the leaves of which serve it at once for food and clothing. 
It eats the parenchyma or inner pulp, burrowing between 
the upper and under membranes, of portions of which 
cut out, and properly sewed together, it forms its case. 
Its usual plan is, to insinuate itself between the epider- 
mal membranes of the leaf, close to one of the edges. 
Parallel with this it excavates a cavity of suitable form 
and dimensions, gnawing the pulp even out of every pro- 
jection of the serratures, but carefully avoiding to sepa- 
rate the membranes at the very edge, which with a wise 
saving of labour it intends should form one of the seams 
ofits coat ; and as the little miner is not embarrassed with 
the removal of the excavated materials, which it swallows 
as it proceeds, a cavity sufficiently large is but the work 
of afew hours. It then lines it with silk} at the same 
time pushing it into a more cylindrical shape; and lastly, 
cutting it off at the two ends and inner side, it sews up 
the latter with such nicety that the suture is scarcely dis- 
coverable ; and is now provided with a case or coat exactly 
fitting its body, open at the two ends, by one of which it 
feeds and by the other discharges its excrement, having 
on one side a nicely-joined seam, and the other—that 
which is commonly applied to its back—composed of the 
natural marginal junction of the membranes of the leaf. 
Such are the ordinary operations of this insect, which, 
when it is considered that the case is rather fusiform than 
cylindrical ; that the end through which it eats is circular, 
and the other curiously three-cornered like a cocked-hat ; 
and that consequently its cloth requires to be very irre- 
gularly and artfully cut, to be accommodated to such a 
fleure—it must be admitted, are the result of an instinct 
