Page:Insects - Their Ways and Means of Living.djvu/324

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and tapers somewhat toward the other end. The general color is blackish, but there is a pale gray collar on the first segment back of the head and a grayish line along the sides of the bodv. Most of the segments have pale rear margins above? which are often bright yellow or orange on the fourth to the seventh segments. There is usually a darker line along the middle of the back. The body ?s covered with long gray hairs, those on the sides spre'ading outward, those on the back curving forward. After a few days of feeding the caterpillars increase to nearly twice their length at hatching. Wl?en the weather continues fair after the time of hatching, the caterpillars begin their lives with happier days, and their early history is different from that of those unfortunates described above. Three other broods, which were round hatching on March ?_2, before the period of bad weather had begun, were brought indoors and reared under more favorable circumstances. These caterpillars spent but little time on the egg masses and wasted only a few strands of silk upon them. They were soon off on exploring expeditions, small processions going outward on the twigs leading from the eggs or their vicinity, while some individuals dropped at the ends of threads to see what might be below. Most, however, at first went upward, as if they knew the opening leaf buds should lie in that direction. If this course, though, hap- pened to lead them up a barren spur, a squirming, furry mob would collect on the summit, apparently bewildered by the trick their instinct had played upon them. On tl?e other hand, many followed those that first dropped down on threads, these in turn adding other strands till soon a silken stairway was constructed on which indi- viduals or masses of little woolly bodies dangled and twisted, as if either enjoying the sport or too fearful to go farther. For several davs the young caterpillars led this happy, irresponsible lire, expl¢?ring twigs, feeding wherever an

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