Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 February 1875 — An Insect’s Tomb and Cradle. [ARTICLE]

An Insect’s Tomb and Cradle.

In our last number attention was briefly directed to a few of the vegetable wonders of the valley of the Amazon, and it is to the same region that we shall now return. Devoting our present work to the description of one of .the insect artisans of this region, we wili notice the peculiar habits of those caterpillars which, in the methods of building their cocoons, seem to have been either the instructors or pupils of the oriole, or some other of the birds who build hanging nests. The creature which builds the hanging tomb is found near Ega, on the upper waters of the Amazon' Its work, as described by Mr. Bates, from personal observation, consists of a cocoon almost the size of a sparrow’s-egg, woven in broad meshes of buff or rose-colored silk, suspended from the extreme tip of an outstanding leaf by a strong silken thread five or six inches in length. Choosing a branch which reaches out and across one of the narrow and secluded alleys of the forest, the cautious weaver begins its work, letting itself slowly down upon the tip of the leaf it has chosen for an anchorage. Here, having first securely attached its silken cable to the leaf, the caterpillar slowly descends, spinning a thread of silk as it goes. Having given a proper length to this cord, the spinning of the nest begins. This is woven as a miniature silk bag, the caterpillar placing itself in the center and spinning rings of silk at regular intervals, connecting them at the same time by means of cross-threads. The whole, when finished, forms a loose web, with quadrangular meshes of nearly equal size throughout. The thread which holds it to the branch is glossy and stout, defying all attempts of the birds to break it, and the length of this cord permits the nest below to swing freely, thus rendering its capture a task of no easy accomplishment. There is a small orifice at either end of the bag, to permit the moth, which is to be bom in this airy prison, to escape. We have called this a Dest, but it may more properly be classed both as a tomb and a cradle—the tomb of the caterpillar, and the cradle of the new creature which is to find its life in the death of its devoted -Aether. - . . . . . ; . When this tomb is completed—a task occupying three or four days—the inclosed caterpillar becomes sluggish, its skin shrivels and cracks, and at last the once living and ingenious artisan becomes a motionless chrysalis of narrow shape, which rests gently suspended in its self-created prison. At length the new life appears, and soon the narrow door-way widens, and there flies out and up toward the light and beauty of the day a new creature in the form of a richly-hued but short-lived moth, which must soon become a prey to those enemies against which, in its silken cage, it was so well protected. —Appleton's Journal. A Washington correspondent writes: X saw Gen. Fremont in the lobby of the House yesterday. He is now old and bent, fiis face is deeply chiseled by the furrowing hand of time. His eyes are slightly bleary; his cheek bones stood out as prominent as those of a Sioux chief. Iron gray whiskers, short and stubby, closely trimmed down from the base of his jaw bone, grow upon his thin neck. His hair is yet a dark irongray, and is worn quite long. It is combed well forward, and bangs down in front of his ears. A well-worn beaver, set well back upon his head; a bright scarlet comforter; a gray tweed light overcoat and a dark suit of under clothing made up the general articles of his attire.” A Chicago paper says that “ no gentleman or lady will leave aa opera house Until the curtain is down and all the audience has passed out” An Irishman couldn’t do better than that ‘ -. x f,