228 INSECT ARCHITECTURE. 



granular bodies of a greenish colour, placed irregu- 

 larly on the exterior of the structure, which he calls 

 eggs; but we agree with Re'aumur in thinking it 

 more probable that they are small fragments of moss 

 or lichen intermixed with the stone : in fact, we have 

 ascertained that they are so.* 



When these little architects prepare for their 

 change into chrysalides before becoming moths, they 

 attach their tents securely to the stones over which 

 they have hitherto rambled, by spinning a strong 

 mooring of silk, so as not only to fill up every inter- 

 stice between the main entrance of the tent and the 

 stone, but also weaving a close thick curtain of the 

 same material, to shut up the entire aperture. 



Lichen-Tents and Caterpillars, both of their natural size and magnijkd. 



It is usual for insects which form similar struc- 

 tures, to issue, when they assume the winged state, 

 from the broader end of their habitation ; but our 

 little stone-mason proceeds in a different manner. It 

 leaves open the apex of the cone from the first, for 

 the purpose of ejecting its excrements, and latterly 

 it enlarges this opening a little, to allow of a free 

 exit when it acquires wings ; taking care, however, 

 to spin over it a canopy of silk, as a temporary pro- 

 tection, which it can afterwards burst through with- 

 * J. K. 



