1 18 
TRANSFORMATIONS OF INSECTS. 
have pretty feathery antennae. Considering what clumsy looking 
things some of the moths of the Bombycina group are, and how 
delicate .are the little Psyches, which may be blown almost to 
pieces by a puff of wind, there may be some excuse for the 
name, especially as they have a very tiny mouth, and as they 
live for love, having no other passion or appetite. The larvae live 
in cases, which they make up of a certain quantity of silk and 
of pieces of vegetable tissue arranged with great tact and care. 
Some kinds use pieces of leaves ; others straws cut to a proper 
shape, or morsels of stick ; others build up their curious house, 
which always travels with them, with sprigs of moss ; and one 
in particular constructs some very odd -looking tubes, which, 
although very rough and funny looking outside, are lined with 
the softest and finest silk. The Psychidce carry their cases just 
as snails do their shells; and one species, which will be alluded 
to, especially with reference to its maiden offspring, actually 
mimics shells in the construction of its case. When they wish 
to move they put out their head and the thoracic segments, so 
that their scaly legs can hook on to the leaves or twigs. When 
they want to be quiet they anchor their house by means of a 
silken thread, and re-enter it completely. It is really very 
curious to see these little tubes crawling about, and going here 
and there over the leaves, without being able to distinguish the 
insect. The species are all in the larva state in the early spring 
or middle of summer. One of them, which is the commonest of 
all, may be found on the sloe, elm, and sallow trees, and its case 
is composed of pieces of stems of grass placed side by side. The 
scaly legs (the fore legs) of the larvae are well developed, and the 
membranous legs, which are very small, and furnished with a 
complete ring of hooks, enable the insect to hold on to its snug 
little house. When the larvae have attained their full growth, 
and their time of metamorphosis is at hand, they do not require 
either to seek a safe spot or to manufacture a cocoon, for their 
tube is the best shelter they can possibly have. 
The insect attaches its tube either to the trunk or branch 
of a tree, or to a wall, and closes one end very carefully. This 
operation having been satisfactorily completed, it turns round 
in the tube so as to allow its head to rest near that end of the 
