EGGS OF INSECTS. 13 
there are many entertaining facts to be 
told. The little egg, which I formerly 
mentioned, is laid by the parent fly in 
such a situation, as that the little creature 
which comes out of it may immediately 
find the most suitable food ; whether that 
be leaves, or the bark of twigs and trees, 
or the roots of plants. 
Lucy-^ Then, mamma^ they do not all 
eat leaves r 
Mother, No, they do not; their food 
is of various kinds ; but whatever be the 
kind best suited to them, the fly deposits 
her eggs either on the plant by which 
it is furnished, or so near, that the new 
born animal may immediately reach it. 
Those, which are to be quickly hatched, 
are generally placed on leaves. 
Lucy, Oh ! mamma, yesterday I saw 
on a large cabbage a great number of 
caterpillars of different sizes ; but most of 
them were very little things ; not so long 
as this mark on your ruler: I suppose 
the ^^g had been put on those cabbage 
leaves. 
