Microscopical Essays,, 



them following their captain in every direction, whether ft rait 

 or crookei After they have taken their rep a ft, which is done 

 pn the march, they return to their neft in the fame order in 

 which they fe.t out. 



This mode is followed till they are full grown, when each 

 Forms a cone, in which it is changed into a chryfalis. Mr. Bon- 

 net has fhewn, that though thefe caterpillars proceed often very 

 far from their neft, it is by no means difficult for them to get back 

 again, becaufe they fpin over all the places in their rout. The 

 firft leads the way, the fecond follows fpinning, the third fplns 

 after the firft and fecond, and fo on with the reft. All thefe 

 threads form by degrees a fmall Alining track, a little path ; and 

 all thefe paths meet at the neft. To be fully convinced of the 

 ufe of thefe threads, let any one but break the continuation of 

 them in fome place or other, and he {hall fee the little caterpil- 

 lars turn back, as if they were at a lofs, till one more daring than, 

 the reft reftores the communication by fpinning new threads. 



The reader who is defirous of a fuller information concerning 

 the habits of thefe, as well as many other Metis* muft be referred 

 to the laborious and interesting memoirs of M. de Reaumur. 

 Happy if he lliould, like M. de Geer, be induced thereby to 

 follow the fteps of fo great a mafter ; he will derive from thence 

 a continual fource of new pleafures and inereafing delights ; and 

 the more he extends the boundaries of his;obfervations, the more 

 he will be convinced that infinity is, as it were, impreffed 

 on all the works of the Creator. 



Different 



