326 



Mi croscopic a.l 



ES S A YS. 



oftener than the generall y of caterpillars, that is, more than 

 four, five, or fix times, for fome have been obferved to mouk 

 above nine times. 



We have already taken notice of thefe changes in the laft 

 chapter. The caterpillar generally fafts for fome days previous 

 to the moulting, the flefhy and other interior parts of the head 

 are then detached from the old fkull, and retire as it were within 

 the neck • it is foon however cloathed with pieces fimilar to thofe 

 it has abandoned, only larger and at firft very foft. When the 

 new {kin and the other parts are formed, the old {kin is to be 

 opened, and all the members withdrawn from it, an operation 

 naturally difficult, but which muft be rendered more fo from the 

 foft and weak ftate of the little creature at that time. The cater- 

 pillar is always much larger after the change. 



It appears from the experiments of M. Lyonet, that this cater- 

 pillar generally paffes two winters at leaft, if not three, before it 

 affumes the pupa ftate, but then it neither afts nor eats in the 

 winter, forming at the approach of this feafon a little cafe or 

 habitation, the infide of which is lined with filk, and the outflde 

 covered with fmall pieces of wood like fine faw-dufl : inclofed in 

 this it waits the return of fpring. They .are fometimes three 

 inches and an half long when full grown, the fmalleft about two 

 inches. The fize which they attain is very great, if compared 

 with that of the new born caterpillar, which does not exceed one 

 twelfth of an inch, an increafe in growth much fuperior to that 

 of the larger animals. 



It 



