48 
SOLITARY NESTS. 
that were it only larger, it would bear away the 
palm of beauty from the insect world. 
But I must tell you a curious stratagem that 
another, and much larger caterpillar* employs 
to secure itself from its enemies. It lives in 
Hew Holland, and is hatched upon the bark of a 
tree. The moment it comes out of the egg, it 
begins to bore downwards into the wood, and 
goes on until it has reached the very centre of 
the stem. Here it makes a cell, and takes up 
its abode. But it dares not leave the entrance of 
the hole undefended; so it weaves a door of silk 
mixed with bits of stick and leaves, in such an 
artful manner that it can hardly be distinguished 
from the trunk. The door is fastened at the top, 
but swings loose below, so that the caterpillar 
can push its way in and out. All day, it lies 
snug in its nest; but when the sun has set, it 
sallies forth to search for food. Presently it 
comes back, holding a leaf by the end of the 
stalk, dragging it along. To open the door is 
rather a difficult matter, since the caterpillar has 
the leaf in its mouth; but it pushes it open with 
the hinder part of its body, and slides in back¬ 
wards, drawing the leaf after it; nor does it quit 
its hold, until it has safely gummed the leaf 
within the cell. Then it sets off in quest of 
* Nyeterobius, is very destructive to the Banksia trees. 
