[ 4<S° ] 
Another yet more remarkable Singularity in the 
Tafte of certain Kinds of Caterpillars , of the Species 
of fmooth ones, fome of the Firft Clafs, and others 
of the Second, is, that they are fond of eating their 
own Exuviae ; they have fcarcely caft them off but 
they fall to devouring them. And this will appear 
ff ill more furprifing, if one confiders the Condition 
in which the Caterpillars then are. Every one has 
learnt from Silkworms, that, after the moulting, thefe 
fort of Infe&s are extremely weak j and that for a 
confiderable time they remain without any Nourifh- 
ment, to give time to their new Organs, particularly 
their Teeth, to ftrengthen themfelves : Yet here you 
fee Caterpillars , which, immediately after this cri- 
tical Operation, greedily devour not only the fofc or 
rather tough Part of their Skin, but even all that is 
fcaly in it, as the Skull, the Legs, &c. 1 have even 
obferved fome, which feemed to feize upon thofe, 
preferably to the reft, and to devour thofe almoft 
bony Parts, before they fell upon the others, that are 
much lefs hard. 
III. Nothing furprifes more in Infe&s, than their 
Induftry 5 and Caterpillars yield to none in this 
refpeft : Not to lpeak of thofe which build for them- 
felves Sheaths or Cafes, in which Silk, their own 
Down, Bits of Bark, Pieces of Paper, &c, are fo art- 
fully wrought together ; there is one * which builds 
in Wood, and is able to give to its Cafe a Hardnefs 
greater than that of Wood it felf. I fhall mention in 
* The extraordinary horned Caterpillar of the Willow, Memoires 
fur les Infe&es, Tom. II. p. 2(54. feq. Goedart. Albin. Mrs. Me - 
nan. This Caterpillar is of the Kind which eat their own Skin. 
few 
