. Insect architecture. Insects. CATERPILLARS. 165 curtain. As this sort of covering is not sufficient for concealment when the animal advances in growth, it abandons the base of the leaf lor the middle, where it doubles up one side in a very secure and ingenious Ifest of the neltle-leaf-rolling Caterpillar. We have watched this little architect begin and finish his tent upon a nettle in our study, the whole operation taking more than half an hour*. He began by walking over the plant in all directions, examining the leaves severally, as if to ascertain which was best fitted for his pur
. Insect architecture. Insects. CATERPILLARS. 165 curtain. As this sort of covering is not sufficient for concealment when the animal advances in growth, it abandons the base of the leaf lor the middle, where it doubles up one side in a very secure and ingenious Ifest of the neltle-leaf-rolling Caterpillar. We have watched this little architect begin and finish his tent upon a nettle in our study, the whole operation taking more than half an hour*. He began by walking over the plant in all directions, examining the leaves severally, as if to ascertain which was best fitted for his purpose by being pliable, and bending with the weight of his body. Having found one to his mind, he placed himself along the mid-rib, to the edge of which he secured himself firmly with the pro-legs of his tail; then stretching his head to the edge of the leaf, he fixed a series of parallel cables between it and the mid-rib, with another series cross- ing these at an acute angle. The position in which he worked was most remarkable, for he did not, as might have been supposed, spin his cables with his face to the leaf, but throwing himself on his back, which was turned towards the leaf, he hung with his whole weight by his first-made cables. This, by drawing them into the form of a curve, shortened them, and consequently pulled the edge of the leaf down towards the mid-rib. The weight of his body was not, however, the only power which he employed ; for, using the anal pro-legs as a point of support, he. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Rennie, James, 1787-1867. London, M. A. Nattali
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, booksubjectinsects, bookyear1846
