96 OF SOCIABLE CATEKPILLAKS. 



lain and wind. Here they continue in a torpid state 

 till the beginning of April, if the season is favour- 

 able, when they are recalled into action by the 

 genial wannth of the sun, and they quickly crawl 

 abroad, and devastate all the young and tender 

 leaves in the neighbourhood of their domicile. 

 To prevent the possibility of their structure being 

 damaged by the shoots inside, they gnaw all the 

 shoots of leaves off as soon as they are formed. 



By this time the catei'pillars increase greatly in 

 size, which obliges them to add to their dwelling. 



The caterpillaroftheProcessionary Moth (jBo/wiyx 

 processioneu) constructs its nest in a different manner 

 from the above, although the materials are the same. 

 These larvse feed universally on the leaves of differ- 

 ent species of oak. They always attach their house 

 to the trunk of the tree in place of the branches, and 

 frequently at a considerable height from the ground. 

 It is formed like a large irregular knot, or protube- 

 rance, and atadistanceis frequently taken for abunch 

 of lichens, as the colour of the silk of which it is 

 composed is gray. This nest is sometimes eighteen 

 inches in length, and six in breadth, swelling in 

 the centre about four inches from the tree. The 

 ingenious architects leave only a single aperture for 

 their entrance and retreat. In their young state, the 

 Processionary Moth caterpillars differ materially in 

 their habits from that of the Boiubi/x chri/sorrhma. 

 For while very young, they have no settled or general 



