80 ON THE HABITATIONS AND 



nical power by which it lias been constructed, and 

 how an insect, possessing neither hands nor fingers, 

 could roll together a leaf, and keep in tliat roll, 

 until it is secured by the silken filaments which 

 completes its binding. The following is the mode 

 in which it is constructed : — The little architect 

 commences his operations by first attaching a series 

 of silken filaments from one edge of the leaf to the 

 other. Those threads are pulled by the feet of the 

 caterpillar till the sides come in contact, when he 

 binds them firmly by shorter threads. It not un- 

 frequently happens, that the stronger nerves of the 

 leaves resist the efforts of the tiny architect, in 

 which case he proceeds to gnaw them at intervals, 

 till they are so weakened, as to be bent with perfect 

 ease. If this is only instinct, it makes the nearest 

 possible approach to reason ; for man himself, in his 

 imtutored state, could not act with more wisdom. 

 A very different procedure is necessary where a 

 conical, or horn-shaped, receptacle is wished, which 

 is not framed with a whole leaf, but with a long 

 triangular portion cut out of its edge. The cater- 

 pillar, in this case, fixes himself on the upper surface 

 of the leaf, and cuts, in a regular and systematic 

 style, with his jaws, the piece necessary for his 

 purpose, without, however, entirely dividing it from 

 the other portion of the leaf, which naturally forms 

 the base of his superstructure. This triangular fillet 

 he winds round as he proceeds ; and, as it generally 



