ENEMIES OF THE CATERPILLAR. 
75 
If you were to touch the caterpillar, out would 
dart, from each of the tubes, a slender, rose- 
coloured organ, which it can turn and twist 
about, exactly as it likes, and with which it would 
lash the place where you had touched it. If 
an ichneumon fly settles on its back, it can 
sometimes drive it away; though such is the 
courage and perseverance of its enemy, that it 
will return again and again, and rarely give up 
its purpose. 
Besides the whip, the caterpillar has another 
weapon of defence. It can dart from its neck 
a little organ, somewhat like a syringe, that 
is perforated with holes, in the same manner 
as the rose of a watering-pot. From this, it 
discharges a fluid to a considerable distance, that 
if it were to get into your eyes, would make 
them smart. 
The caterpillar has a very defiant look, and 
sits with its head and neck held up, as if it did 
not care for anything. There is an amusing story 
told of a foreign naturalist, who saw it for the 
first time, and thinking it a curious creature, 
stretched out his hand to seize it. The cater¬ 
pillar instantly bridled up its head, lashed its 
whip, darted out its syringe, and looked so 
threatening, that he was frightened, and thought 
he might be poisoned if he touched it. But 
