Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 July 1894 — A Caterpillar Procession. [ARTICLE]

A Caterpillar Procession.

I wonder if you all know about the processional caterpillars at Hyeres, which form such an interesting study to naturalists, and about which a girl friend, who has been wintering on the Riviera, writes to me. It seem* they are most curious, and make great webs for nests, in shape like unto soda water bottles, which hang from the fir trees. At night the caterpillars leave the nests and form a long procession, sometimes as many as 200 together, following so closely that they look like one huge worm. If the leader happens to get detached the others are hopelessly lost, and wander about aimlessly looking for him. My friend tells me that she once saw such a chain, and the leader falling over the wall the others seemed helpless, and after seeking for him finally all tumbled over the. wall too, but joined on again when they found him, continuing their procession as if nothing had occurred to disunite them. In the same letter I l\ear that the Bordigherites allow Monte Carlo to be spoken of only as Mount Charles.—[The Gentlewoman.