fpecies o f moth which proceeds from thefe larva is very final},
but exceedingly beautiful.
The larva o f the phiyganea moftly live in little cafes o f their
own building, which are formed o f a variety o f materials, that
they train after them in the water wherever they go. Thefe cafes
are generally cylindrical, and open at both ends; the infide is
lined with filk fpun by the larva, the outfide formed o f different
Tubftances, as bits o f reed, ftohe, gravel, and Tome entirely o f
fmall {hells, &c . which they arrange and manage with lingular
dexterity. They never quit this cafe. When they walk they put
out the head, and a few o f the firfi rings o f the body, training the
cafe after them.
Having lived in the water for feme time, they become inhabitants
o f the air. They affume the pupa form in the water, doling
up the two ends o f the cafe with bars o f filk, by which it is
fecured from the attacks o f it’s enemies ; and at the fame time
there is a free paffage for the water, which is Hill necelfary for it's
exillence ; at a proper period the pupa forces it’s way through the
cafe, and makes for the land, where it’s further change inftantly
commences, and is foon completed.
We lhall clofe thefe fpecimens of the indullry o f infefts with an
account o f that’which is difplayed by the larva o f the tinea. The
greateft part of the body o f thefe little creatures, except the head
and fix fore feet, is covered over with a thin tender Ikin; the
body of the infeft is cylindrical, and lodged in a tube which is
open at both ends. Soon after they are born they begin to cover
themfelves, and are, therefore, feldom to be found but in thefe
tubes
tubes or cafes. They are, in general, fo fmall, that it is not eafy
to diftinguifh the cafes without a magnifier; but as the body
lengthens, the cafe becomes too Ihort ; it is, therefore, part o f it’s
daily employ to lengthen the cafe. For this purpofe, it extends
the head beyond the tube, and having found the materials which
anfwer it’s purpofe, it tears it off, and brings it to the end of the
tube, and fixes it there, repeating this manoeuvre till it has fuffi-
ciently lengthened it ; after it has finilhed one end, it turns itfelf
round within the cafe, and performs the fame operation at the
other.
This does not terminate their labours, for the tube mull alfo be
inCreafed in diameter, as it foon becomes too fmall for the body ;
the means they make ufe o f to enlarge it, is precifely the fame as
we ourfelves Ihould adopt under fimilar circumftances. The in-
fed flits thé tube at the two oppofite fides, at the fame end, and
inferts in the flit two pieces o f the required fize ; it then performs
the fame at the other end. By this means they foon enlarge it
fufficiently, without expofing themfelves to the air during the
operation. The outfide of thefe-cafes is made o f filk, hair, &c.
The infide is of filk only. Their covering always partakes o f the
colour of the cloth, or tree, &c. from whence it was taken. I f
it paffes over a red piece, the colour will be red. When they
are come to their perfefl: growth, they abandon the doth, and
feek for a proper place wherein they may pafs from their prefent
to a more perfect Hate.
I cannot conclude this long chapter better than in the words of
Mr. Stillingfleet. “ Many are apt to treat with contempt any
man whom they fee employed in poring over a mofs, or examin-
6 ing