604 
INSECTA. 
their peculiar mode of walking. Seizing fast hold of the objects on which they are stationed 
with these six fore-legs, they elevate the intermediate segments of the body into an arch, until 
they bring the hind-feet close to the others ; these they disengage, and, retaining hold with 
the hind feet, thrust forward the body to 
its full length, and then recommence the 
same manoeuvre. Many of these Looper- 
caterpillars resemble, in their mode of 
standing, fixed for a great length of time 
only by their hind legs to twigs, as well as 
in their form and colours, small pieces of 
stick. Such an attitude necessarily requires 
a prodigious muscular force, and Lyonnet 
has, in effect, discovered that the caterpillar 
of the Goat Moth posseses 4041 muscles. 
Some Caterpillars with fourteen or sixteen 
feet, (some of the intermediate membranous 
legs being, however, smaller than the others,) have been named Semi-geometers. The mem- 
branous feet are mostly terminated by a more or less perfect coronet of little hooks. 
The body of these larvae is generally long, subcylindric, soft, variously coloured, sometimes 
naked, and sometimes hairy, tubercled, or spined, and consists of twelve segments, exclusive 
of the head, with nine spiracles on each side ; the skull is horny or scaly, with six small 
granular shining points, which seem to be ocelli, on each side : it has moreover two very short 
conical antennae, a mouth composed of a pair of strong mandibles, two maxillae, a labium, 
and four small palpi ; the silky material which it uses is elaborated in two long, tortuous, 
internal vessels ; a tubular and conical point, situate at the tip of the labium, is the spinneret, 
whence the silk is discharged. The majority of Caterpillars feed upon the leaves of vegetables; 
others devour flowers, roots, buds, seeds ; others eat the hard and solid parts of the wood ; 
this they soften with a secretion which they discharge from the mouth : certain species de- 
stroy our woollen cloths, stuffs, furs, &c., and are the most obnoxious of our domestic insects ; 
others feed on grease, fat, bacon, wax, &c. ; many feed upon a single material, but others, less 
delieate, attack difierent kinds of plants. One of the most striking instances of providence 
is the perfect coincidence between the appearance of the Caterpillar and the vegetable upon 
wliich it is destined to feed. Some kinds of Caterpillars are social, and often live together 
under a kind of tent of silk, which they spin in common, and which serves them as a defence 
against bad weather ; many fabricate cases, either fixed or portable ; some are lodged in the 
parenchyme of leaves, where they make galleries ; the greater number however delight in 
daylight ; others, on the other hand, only come forth at night. Winter, notwithstanding its 
rigours, so uncongenial to nearly all insects, is the period when some moths make their appear- 
ance. Caterpillars generally moult four times before passing to the clu’ysalis state. The majority 
then spin a cocoon in which they are inclosed ; a kind of meconium or red liquid, which these 
insects discharge at the moment of their final transformation, softens one end of the cocoon, 
and allows the escape of the moth. Generally one end of the cocoon is weaker, or even fitted by 
the arrangement of the threads for the escape of the insect. Other Caterpillars merely con- 
tent themselves with attaching together leaves, or particles of earth, &c., with silken thread, 
thus forming a rough kind of cocoon. The Chrysalides of diurnal Butterflies are ornamented 
with golden spots [whence their name of Aurelise or Chrysalides], and are naked, and fixed 
by the posterior extremity of the body; these Chrysalides are of the peculiar kind which 
Linnaeus termed and which are mummy-shaped; the sheaths of the feet and 
antennae being fixed. Those of many species, especially of Butterflies, are hatched in a few 
days ; and thus there are two broods of these in a year. But in respect to others, these Cater- 
