STATES OF INSECTS. 285 



of the cocoon, and through the silk-lined cavity, till it is 

 protruded for about one-third of its length out of the 

 opening in the bark, and into the air a ." 



An exception to the general rule — that the rupturing 

 of the cocoon is the business of the inclosed insect itself 

 — is met with amongst ants ; the workers of which not 

 only feed the young, but actually make an aperture in 

 their cocoons, cutting the threads with their mandibles 

 with admirable dexterity and patience, one by one, at 

 the time they are ready to emerge, the precise period for 

 which these indefatigable nurses are well aware of, that 

 they may meet with no obstacle. Without this aid, the 

 young ant would be unable to force its way through the 

 strong and dense coating of silk that infolds it b . And a 

 proceeding somewhat akin to this was observed by the 

 Hon. Captain Percy, R.N., who himself related it tome. 

 Being fond of the study of insects, he was in the habit of 

 attending to their motions ; and in the beginning of Sep- 

 tember 1821 noticed those of a number of female Tipidce, 

 probably T. oleracea L., busily engaged in depositing 

 their eggs amongst the roots of grass. While observing 

 these proceedings, he at the same time saw one quitting 

 its pupa-case, which had already by its own efforts got 

 its head, thorax, and anterior legs out of it. It was then 

 joined by two male flies ; which, with their anal forceps 

 and posterior legs taking hold of the pupa-case, appeared 

 with their mouths and anterior legs to push the little pri- 

 soner upwards, moving her backwards and forwards; 

 and as they kept raising her, shifting their hold of the 



a Some Notice of the Insect which destroys the Locust-trees, 70. 

 This Memoir is in some American periodical work, of which I have 

 not the title. b Huber Fourmis 82. 



