114 
THE ESCAPE OF THE MOTH. 
The leaf-rolling caterpillar weaves its cocoon 
within the green gallery where it has been feed¬ 
ing, and slings it up like a hammock. It is of 
very slight texture, and forms no barrier to the 
outlet of the moth. But she is too small and 
feeble to force her way through the roll of leaf, 
and would remain a prisoner for ever, unless the 
caterpillar had provided against such a misfor¬ 
tune. But the caterpillar, before it became a 
chrysalis, took care to gnaw a little piece of the 
leaf away, in a circle, and to leave only the outer 
skin unbroken. This is to serve as a door for the 
moth; but she might not be able to find if, and 
so waste a few moments of her short life in look¬ 
ing for it. As if the caterpillar had foreseen the 
dilemma, it spins a thread from the door, and 
secures it to its own head. When the moth 
comes out of the chrysalis, the thread is still 
fastened to her head, and, like a clue, guides her 
to the door, which she can easily push open, and 
gain her liberty. 
The caterpillar that cheats the farmer by eating 
his corn, does much the same thing. It makes a 
cocoon within the hollow skin of the grain, where 
it changes into a chrysalis. But the hole by 
which it entered is so very small, that the moth 
could not possibly get through it. So- the cater¬ 
pillar gnaws a little circle in the grain, leaving as 
