The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-03-30


Residents of Brooklyn during August
and September of last year might have
noticed creeping down the trunks of
trees or along the sidewalk large green
worms between three and four inches
in length, with red blue and yellow
horns on their backs. Some observers
might have given these wanderers a
glance of casual interest, some more
curious might have witnessed their
actions when touched with q stick,
while others, with the feelings of dis
gust, which such creatures often pro-
woke, might have ended their existence
at once. All, however, attracted by
, their brilliant colors, must have Won
dered what part they played in the
vast and mysterious scheme of nature,
The writer, in September collected
four of these worms and placed them
in pasteboard box covered with silk
netting. Not understan ing their
strange confinement at first they
seemed restless and wandered discon-
tentedly up and down their prison.
This treatment evidently did not i'm
prove their temper, for on two of them
meeting pitched battle was at once
fought. Their mode of warfare is both
singular and amusing. Standing on
their hind legs, the upper portion of
their body is drawn back at an angle
of forty-fye degrees, and then at a
seemingly understood signal they sud-
denly swung their heads around and
"whack;" one or the other is knocked
down by a blow like that from a small
sized catapult BY degrees, however,
they Gained down and before two days
of prison life had passed each had
selected a corner of the box for its own
private domain.
Suspended from the netting they now
began to spread over their tangible
surroundings a gluey substance sup
piled from the mouth. After this they
spun around themselves a shell of fine
siken threads, which they crossed and
recrossed until it hid them completely
from sight. Placing ones ear to this
shell the interchangeable worker might
be heard continuing his appointed
tasks within. Two weeks later this
outside covering, which is absolutely
air tight, was cut upon. Another shell
was found suspended from the first and
within it there lay the caterpiler, no
longer brilliant green, but brown
and shriveled up, although still alive.
Amazed by the ingenuity displayed
by such q despised creature in fabri-
eating its home and fortifying itself
against the rude blasts of winter, and
desiring to learn more of the secrets
connected with its life, made visit
to Mir Julius Meyer, Brooklyn's lead
ing entomologist who has earned a
worldwide reputation for many dis
covories in this line. His collection of
moths is very large and comprehen-
sive, the result, in measure of his
labors about Brooklyn and the suburbs.
In conversation the following inter-
esting information was gathered con-
corning this particular species:
Eggs placed by the parent moth
oftentimes in ring around the branch
of some tree change first into the cater
piller, then into the chrysalis and lastly
into the moth or perfect state, capable
OF depositing eggs again, which under
go the same transformations. When
in the caterpillar state its true appear
ance is masked, as it were Under
this mask or skin the moth, such as it
afterwards appears when perfect, lies
concealed, enveloped only in its tender
wings and putting on a soft, pulpy
appearance. Some have professed
themselves able to demonstrate that
the moth with its wings existed in the
worm, though it bore but faint re-
semblance to its future perfection.
The only alteration, therefore, under
gone in the chrysalis state is q change
of skin"
When the caterpiller has come from
the egg it makes its home at first in
trees and, feeding upon the leaves, it
there attains its full growth After
ward looking around for some suitable
spot to build n cocoon, instinct seems
to teach it that trees exposed 10 winds
are insecure, and so, creeping down,
it seeks some lower and safer retreat
There it spins its chrysalis before de-
scribed and remains in dormant
state all winter until the metamorpho-
sis is completed. What delicate handi-
work of nature is exhibited by that
change. What infinite skill. What
amazing design. What marvellous ex-
ecution.
"As the genial, warm, vernal days
approach the transformation nears its
climax until toward the middle of June.
bursting from its long confinement, it
stands beautiful moth upon the
borders of another existence. The
exit from the ehrysalis usually happen
ing in the morning, the moth, perched
upon some convenient projection, will
slowly wave its wings to gain strength,
keeping up this motion all day. AS
the sun goes down it suddenly spreads
Its wings and shoots away in search of
sonle congenial mate. When resting.
instinct prompts it to seek some tree
whose bark matches in shade its own
color fox although variously striped
when on the wing, with its wings
closed, its general appearance is of a
dark brown. Thus it is that it ESCAPES
capture until the vigilant and experi-
enced hunter detects its hiding place. .
Mr. Meyers collection of moths con-
tains many of the finest specimens in
the world, some small enough to be
covered with silver dve.cent piece,