Page:Jardine Naturalist's Library Exotic Moths.djvu/167

Rh fine light yellowish brown silk, extending this coating, with great skill and foresight, over the footstalk of the leaf, and attaching it firmly to the branch, so as to secure the leaf from being separated by any accident. This preliminary operation having been accomplished, the caterpillar next draws the edges of the leaf together; thus forming a perfect external covering or mantle, in which it spins a fine strong durable cocoon of fine silk. In this habitation our little architect passes the winter, secure from birds and other enemies. (This is attempted to be represented in the upper right-hand figure of Plate XII.) As soon as the cocoon has been completed, the caterpillar again sheds its skin, and is transformed into a pupa or nymph, as represented in the partially opened cocoon figured in Plate XII. fig. 2. At first, the leaf enveloping the cocoon remains green, but soon changes to a red or brown colour, when it becomes brittle, and is gradually carried away by the winds and storms of the winter, until finally nothing remains except the cocoon itself, which is firmly suspended by the silk which once covered the footstalk of the leaf. The instinct of the caterpillar, in thus providing for the permanent attachment of its future habitation, appears to be superior to that shown by many other species. "The caterpillar is of a delicate green colour, with yellow feet; each segment of the body, except the posterior, is marked with six blue spots, from which arise small black tubercles; in the second and third segments, however, the two centre