DICRANURA VINULA: 



OR, 



THE PUSS MOTH— (Concluded J. - 



By S. Bairstow. 



Whilst recommending B. Vinula in the highest possible terms to the 

 consideration and imitation of all true lovers of industry, I would still 

 desire to pass over as unworthy of emulation the Vinula! s tail-eating 

 propensity. It surprises me, however, to think that Darwin should 

 have omitted such an important and forcible problem in the Monkey 

 Euclid ; and that that gentleman who something like a century and 

 a half ago surmised our tails had once been, but by dint of long 

 usage and long sitting, had entirely worn out, should not have been 

 more struck with the puss tail-eating propensity as a solution, than 

 the long-sitting propensity, is amazing. When I get as great a gun, 

 as clever a man, as Darwin (I speak reverently, for to him be all 

 honour due for his grand promotion of scientific theory and pact 

 in the nineteenth century), I will write a book for the coming 

 million, entitled " Tail-eating Evolution, vei^sus Tail- by-rubbing Dis- 

 solution," or " Non-Darwinii sed Tailii." 



It is now, there appears a wonderful alteration in the larval 

 department. Tiie colour changes to a duller, more dismal hue ; its 

 natural inertness gives place to the sharp activity of a little busy- 

 body. Fussy, hasty, never tired imtil satisfied, this little fellow trots 

 about into every nook and corner, overturns every obstacle (or if it 

 cannot overturn, walks over itj, until at last with comfort and ease, 

 with solitude and tranquillity, it can find a spot whereon to lay its 

 head, whereon to sleep the semi-death of pupa-hood, and rise again 

 in the resurrection of a perfect snow-white sylph. Now it is that 

 instinct plies intuitively its skilful oar ; now it is that Mr. P. says — 

 " Adieu, friends ; adieu poplar leaf ; adieu ichneumon flies, my 

 dreaded enemies ; brother, whose tail I have nibbled off — adieu " : — 

 and then, wrapping up itself within itself, falls (after a long struggle 

 to kick off its final suit of clothes) into the arms of Morpheus. 



This larva exhibits a wonderful aptitude for weaving its horny cocoon 

 and in its work uses a kind of substance consisting of a tough, 

 gummy, horny nature, catching atoms of the substan6e on which it 

 spins to interweave with its cocoon. Place it in a cardboard-box to build 



