98 OF SOCIABLE CATElH'ILLAnS. 



constmct in a simple style, by a vaulted web, simply 

 covering the leaf they inhabit. In the course of time, 

 however, a larger one is formed, with a plurality of 

 apartments, strong in its texture, and magnificent in 

 its appearance, and capable of protecting them against 

 the inclemency of the weather, and the intrusion of 

 enemies. And with the style of Eastern magnificence, 

 they spin a soft carpeting over every part of the bark 

 of trees, where they may have occasion to tread in 

 search of food. They seldom feed in the parching 

 heat of noon-day, but repose in their tent ; here, 

 also, they pass part of the middle of night. It, 

 however, seldom happens that they are all out at 

 one time. In this comfortable retreat they change 

 their skins, and to it they fly for refuge when alarmed. 

 Here, also, they spend the winter in a state of 

 torpor, emerging in spring, feeding again in society ; 

 but about the end of May, or beginning of June, 

 they disperse, and, eating for a month in solitude, 

 change their condition into a pupa. It is when these 

 caterpillars finally abandon their nests that they are 

 taken possession of by spiders, which has given rise 

 to the popular, although erroneous belief, that they 

 are the parents of these larva;. 



The most remarkable of this tribe of insects which 

 live in imperfect societies, are those whose cater- 

 pillars, upon certain occasions, preserve a particular 

 line of march. Bonnet gives an interesting account 

 of the Phalcnna (Bombi/x) neustria, whose cater- 



