OF SOCIABLE CATERPILLARS. 97 



habitation; they content themselves with occupying 

 temporary tents, till they have arrived at above two- 

 thirds of their adult size. They then congi-egate, 

 and, by their united labours, construct the large 

 habitation above described, where they dwell in great 

 harmony, until they have gone through the purga- 

 tory of their chrysalis state, when they assume 

 their perfect condition. 



The Bomhyx, phceorrhea, neustria, and many 

 others, construct similar nests ; but it is unnecessary 

 to enter into a detail of these. 



Reaumur gives an interesting account of the Gold- 

 tail Moth, whose caterpillars are gregarious, and spin 

 for themselves a silken tent. They arc of that family 

 of Bombyces, which pull from their bodies the hairs 

 wherewith to envelope their eggs. The moment the 

 larva emerges from the egg, it commences feeding : 

 it is quickly joined by another, which places itself 

 alongside the first, until a succession of these reach 

 across the leaf: when this is completed, a second 

 pile is begun, and then a third, and thus they con- 

 tinue to rank themselves till the whole upper sur- 

 face of the leaf is covered. It seldom happens that a 

 single leaf is large enough to contain the whole 

 community ; those who cannot be accommodated 

 pursue the same arrangement on a contiguous leaf. 

 When they have satisfied their hunger, by a simul- 

 taneous impulse, they set about weaving a habita- 

 tion for their mutual comfort. This they at first 



