THE CHRYSALIS. 
81 
caterpillar spins a cable of silk that breaks its 
fall, and enables it to climb up to its place again. 
You may see this manoeuvre any day, by giving 
a tree a hearty shake. Down will drop myriads 
of caterpillars, and hang in the air, each one 
suspended by its silken cord. As soon as the 
tree is quiet, and the danger seems to be over, 
they will all climb up their ladders, and begin 
feeding as if nothing had happened. 
And the caterpillar can cheat its great enemy, 
the bird, by behaving 
in much the same 
manner. When the 
little leaf-roller is in 
its green gallery, a 
bird will often put in 
his beak at one end 
of the roll, and then 
out the caterpillar 
will dart at the other; 
and drop down its 
thread until it is out 
of sight. It will fall 
as low as six feet, 
falling a foot at a 
time, and then paus¬ 
ing, as if to take breath, and when the bird has 
flown away, disappointed of his prey, the cater- 
