|
'Tis endless to tell you what the curious searchers into nature's
productions have observed of these worms and flies: but yet I shall
tell
you what Aldrovandus, our Topsel, and others, say of the Palmer-worm,
or Caterpillar: that whereas others content themselves to feed on
particular herbs or leaves; for most think, those very leaves that
gave
them life and shape, give them a particular feeding and nourishment,
and that upon them they usually abide; yet he observes, that this
is
called a pilgrim, or palmer-worm, for his very wandering life, and
various food; not contenting himself, as others do, with any one
certain
place for his abode, nor any certain kind of herb or flower for
his
feeding, but will boldly and disorderly wander up and down, and
not
endure to be kept to a diet, or fixt to a particular place.
Nay, the very colours of caterpillars are, as one has observed,
very
elegant and beautiful I shall, for a taste of the rest, describe
one of
them; which I will, some time the next month, shew you feeding
on a
willow-tree; and you shall find him punctually to answer this
very
description: his lips and mouth somewhat yellow; his eyes black
as jet;
his forehead purple; his feet and hinder parts green; his tail
two-forked
and black; the whole body stained with a kind of red spots, which
run
along the neck and shoulder-blade, not unlike the form of St.
Andrew's
cross, or the letter X, made thus crosswise, and a white line
drawn
down his back to his tail; all which add much beauty to his whole
body.
And it is to me observable, that at a fixed age this caterpillar
gives over
to eat, and towards winter comes to be covered over with a strange
shell
or crust, called an aurelia; and so lives a kind of dead life,
without
eating all the winter. And as others of several kinds turn to
be several
kinds of flies and vermin, the Spring following; so this caterpillar
then
turns to be a painted butterfly.
|
|
