NATURAL HISTORY. & 
‘When winter has difrobed the trees of their leaves, Nature then feems 
‘to have loft her infeéts. There are thoufands of different kinds, with 
and without wings, which, though fwarming at other feafons, then en- 
tirely difappear. Our fields are re- peopled, when the leaves begin to 
ud, by the genial influence of {pring ; and caterpillars, of various forts, 
are feen feeding upon the promife of the year, even before the leaves 
are completely unfolded. ‘Thofe caterpillars, which we then fee, may 
ferve to give us a view of the general means which Nature employs to 
Preferve fuch a number of intects during that feafon, when they can 
No longer find fubfiftence. It is known, by united experience, that ail 
- thefe animals are hatched from the eggs-of butterflies ; and thofe who 
Obferve them more clofely, will find the fly very careful in depofiting 
its eggs in thofe places where they are likely to be hatched with the 
Breateft fafety and iuccefs. During winter, therefore, the greatelt 
Number of.caterpillars are in an egg ftate ; and in this lifelefs fituation, 
rave all the rigours and the humidity of the climate; and though of- 
ten expofed to all its changes, ftill preferve the latent principles of life, 
Which is more fully exerted at the approach of {pring. That fame 
Power that pufhes forth the budding leaf, and the opening flower, im- 
Pels the infe@ into animation ; and Nature at once feems to furnith the 
Queft and the banquet. When the infect has found force to break its 
thell, it always finds its favourite aliment provided in abundance be- 
lete-. ; 
But all caterpillars are not fent off from the egg in the beginning of 
Pring ; for many of them have fubfifted during the winter in their 
Aurelia fate: in which, as we have briefly obferved above, the animal 
'8 feemingly deprived of life and motion. In this {tate of infenfibility, 
Many of thefe infe€s continue during the rigours of winter; fome en- 
- Rlofed in a kind of thell, which they have {pun for themfelves at the 
€nd of autumn; fome concealed under the bark of trees; others in the 
~ Shinks of old walls; and many buried under ground. From all thete, 
8 variety of butterflies are feen to iffue, in the beginning of {pring ; and 
adorn the earlieft part of the year with their painted flutterings. 
Some caterpillars do not make any change whatfoever at the ap- 
Proach of winter; but continue to live in their reptile fate, through ail 
the feverity of the feafon. Thefe chufe themfelves fome retreat, where. 
hey may remain undifturbed for months together ; and there they con- 
0 quite motionlefs, and as infenfible as if they were actually dead. 
eir conftitution is.fach, that food, ut that time, would be ulelefs 5 
and the cold prevents their making thole diffipations which require re- 
Sration. In general, caterpillars of this kind are found in great num~- 
Sts together, enclofed in one common web, that covers them ail, and 
*tves to protect them from the injurics of the air. 
all <altly, there are fome of the caterpillar kind, whofe butterflies live 
“hig winter; and who, having fluttered about for fome part of the 
‘ er end of autumn, feek for fome retreat during the winter, in order 
antwer the ends of propagation, at the approach of fpring. Thefe 
"€ often found lifelefs and motionlefs in the hollows of trees, or the 
= ts of timber; but, by being approached to the fire, they recover 
and a@ivity, and feem to anticipate the defires of fpring. 
12 general, however, whether the ansmal has fubfiited in an egy 
“S€, during the winter; or whether aS-a butterfly, bred from an au-— 
-]2 
TEukly: 
