HABITATIONS OF INSECTS. 1.59 



witnessing a short time since upon the alders in the Hull 

 Botanic Garden, more ingenious than their brethren, 

 and willing to save the labour of sewing up two seams in 

 their dwelling, insinuate themselves near the edge of a 

 leaf instead of in its middle. Here they form their ex- 

 cavation, mining into the very crenatures between the 

 two surfaces of the leaf, which, being joined together at 

 the edge, there form one seam of the case, and from their 

 dentated figure give it a very singular appearance, not 

 unlike that of some fishes which have fins upon their 

 backs. The opposite side they are necessarily forced to 

 cut and sew up, but even in this operation they show an 

 ingenuity and contrivance worthy of admiration. The 

 Tinea?, which cut out their suit from the middle of the 

 leaf, wholly detach the two surfaces that compose it be- 

 fore they proceed to join them together, the serrated in- 

 cisions made by their teeth, which, if they do not cut as 

 fast, in this respect are more effective than any scissors, 

 interlacing each other so as to support the separated 

 portions until they are properly joined. But it is ob- 

 vious that this process cannot be followed by those 

 Tineae which cut out their house from the edge of a leaf. 

 If these were to detach the inner side before they had 

 joined the two pieces together, the builder as well as his 

 dwelling would inevitably fall. They therefore, before 

 making any incision, prudently run (as a sempstress 

 would call it) loosely together in distant points the two 

 membranes on that side. Then putting out their heads 

 they cut the intermediate portions, carefully avoiding the 

 larger nerves of the leaf; afterwards they sew up the de- 

 tached sides more closely, and only intersect the nerves 



