91 



other ; hence, each brood constructs several webs in 



the course of its caterpillar state ; the reason of which 

 is, that the caterpillars do not quit their webs to feed, 

 but only eat such leaves as are enclosed in each web. 

 The number of inhabitants in a colony varies from one 

 hundred to two hundred ; and, hence, the more nume- 

 rous the colony, the more frequent is a change of resi- 

 dence required. These webs consist of a great number 

 of threads not unlike spider webs, arranged somewhat 

 irregularly, but'sufficiently loose to enable the inhabi- 

 tants to be seen through the covering. The cater- 

 pillars eat only the parenchyma of the upper side of 

 the leaf ; they also arrange their threads longitudi- 

 nally, each, apparently, having a thread of its own* 

 along which it moves either backwards or forwards 

 without disturbing its neighbours, which, when in re- 

 pose, are arranged side by side. 



