NATURAL HISTORY. Lay 
‘The bodies of Caterpillars are longer than they are round, and they 
are compofed of rings, whofe circumference is pretty near circular or 
eval; they are generally twelve in number, and are all membraneous, 
by which Caterpillars may be diftinguifhed from divers other infedts, 
whofe bodies confift of twelve rings. The head of the Caterpillar is 
conneéted to the firft ring, and between the head and this ring, there 
is a neck, generally fo fhort, that it is fearcely vifible. All the cover- 
ing of the head in Caterpillars, feem to confift of a thell, and they have 
neither upper nor lower jaw; for they are both placed exaétly at the 
fame height, and armed with fuch a large thick tooth, that they both 
are equivalent to all the large teeth that other animals are furnifhed 
with. When the mouth is fhut, thefe teeth are always uncovered, fo 
that it is with eafe that the Caterpillars cut the leaves in pieces, when 
they feed upon them. 
Caterpillars have fix {mall black grains, placed on the cireumferevice 
. of the fore-ring, and a little to the fide of the head. Three of 
are larger than the reft, and are convex and tranfparent; thefe Mr 
Reaumur takes to be the eyes of the Caterpillar; but Vasni/nieri will 
not allow them to be fuch. 
There are a great variety among Caterpillars, one of the moft remark- 
able is, that fome have more legs than others, and thefe are of two 
kinds; thofe that are fhelly, fo called, becanfe they are covered with a 
fort of fhining griftles ; and the other membraneous, becaufe their fkins 
are foft and flexible. All thefe Caterpillars have fix fhelly legs, three 
On each fide, which proceed from the three fir rings, and thefe are 
called by Mr Reaumur the fore legs; but all Caterpillars have not an 
equal number of membraneous legs, for fome have two, others four, 
Others fix; and others again eight. 
Reaumur divides Caterpillars into feveral claffes; the firk of which 
are thofe that have eight intermediate legs, four on each fide; that is 
to fay fixteen in all. Their eight intermediate legs are connected to 
the four rings that follow each other, The largeft Caterpillars, and 
thofe that are moft commonly feen, are of this firft clafs. 
The fecond and third claffes, confit of thofe that have only three 
intermediate legs on each fide, that is to fay, fourteen in all. ‘Uhefe 
are generally remarkable for their induftry ; and the difference between 
thefe two claffes, is principally taken from the. different arrangement 
Of their feet: the fecond comprehends Caterpillars that have no feet 
on the fourth, fifth, fixth, tenth, and eleventh ring; and the third con- 
Oks of thofe that have the fourth and fifth ring unprovided with feet, 
and yet have a pair on the fixth, feventh and eighth, but none on 
the ninth, tenth, and eleventh. 
The fourth clafs contains Caserpillars that have fonrteen feet, fix of 
which are fhelly, and the eight intermediate ones membraneous, placed 
As in thofe of the firft clafs, and on the fixth, feventh, eighth, and ninth 
Ting. The fifth clafs comprehends thofe that have four intermediate 
feet, that is twelve in all. In the fixth clafs he places thoie that have 
but two intermediate feet, or ten feet in all. 
The Caterpillars of the fifth clafs, have but four rings that follow 
€ach other, which have no feet, and thofe of the fixth clafs have fix 
Tings, which are placed between the {caly legs and the intermediate 
gs. ‘Thefe two clailes comprehend Caterpillars that walk in a diffe- 
. hago rent 
