THE CATERPILLAR. 
29 
its strength, thrust its head under the edge of 
the glass. In another minute, it had lifted it up, 
thrown down the hook, and fairly gained its 
liberty. 
So much for the muscular strength of the 
caterpillar. And now let us say something of 
the hairs that often grow upon its body. 
You all know the hairy caterpillar that is found 
so plentifully in our woods and lanes. Its long 
silky hairs help to defend it from its enemies; for 
if you touch it, it instantly coils itself round like 
a ball, and drops to the ground. There it is 
cunning enough to lie quite still, hidden by the 
grass, so that it is not easy to find it; and even 
if you do, its smooth hairy body will slip through 
your fingers like an eel. This caterpillar wears 
its shaggy coat even to the tips of its feet, and 
no doubt finds it very comfortable. It does not 
go into a torpid state in the winter, and as it eats 
grass, it can always find plenty of food. On a 
fine day, when the sun happens to shine, numbers 
of these caterpillars come out to enjoy it; and 
you may see them stretched on some withered 
twig, making the most of the gleam of warmth 
and brightness. The moth is called “ Drinker 
Moth,”* because the caterpillar has been seen to 
* Bombyx potatoria, from potare, to drink. 
