27G STATES OF INSECTS. 



piercing the cocoons of leaves, of thick silk, of tough gum, 

 or even of wood, in which the pupae are incased. W e 

 can readily conceive how the strong jaws of coleopterous 

 and hymenopterous species may be employed to release 

 them from their confinement. But what instruments can 

 be used for this purpose by moths in a state of great de- 

 bility, whose mouth has nothing like jaws— merely a soft 

 membranous proboscis ? How shall the silkworm-moth 

 (B. Mori) force its way through the close texture of a silken 

 ball, through which the finger could not be easily pushed? 

 Or the puss-moth {Centra Vinula) pierce the walls of 

 its house of glue and wood, which scarcely yield to the 

 knife? You will not doubt that these difficulties have been 

 foreseen by Infinite Wisdom, and provided against by 

 Infinite Power. The egress of moths from their co- 

 coons is secured in two ways; — either by some peculiarity 

 in the first construction of the cocoon by the caterpillar, 

 or by some process which the pupa or perfect insect is 

 instructed to perform. As examples of each, several cu- 

 rious instances may be cited. 



The larva of the moth which about 1760 made such 

 havoc in the province of Angoumois in France, becomes 

 a pupa in the interior of the grain of wheat which it has 

 excavated ; but the opening by which it first entered is 

 not bigger than a pin's point, and is quite insufficient for 

 the egress of the moth. How, then, is the latter to force 

 its way through the tough skin which surrounds it? The 

 larva, previously to assuming the pupa state, gnaws out a 

 little circular piece at that end of the grain where the head 

 of the future moth would lie, taking care not to detach it 

 entirely. At this little door, which is sufficient to pro- 

 tect it from intruders, the moth has but to push, when it 



