Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-05-03
FOUR CAPTURED WORMS.
And the Investigation Which They
Suggested.
Restless In Confinement at First, but Final
ly Accepting the Situation - Watch
ing Their Work - A Collectors
Treasures Curious Spe cimens.

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 a 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 a pasteboard box covered with silk
netting Not understanding 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 a 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-five 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 blow like that from small
sized catapult. BY degrees, however,
they calmed down and before two days
of prison life had passed each had
selected corner of the box for its own
private domain.
Suspended from the netting they now
began to spread over their tangible
surroundings gluey substance sup
piled from the mouth. After this they
spun around themselves a shell of fine
silken threads, which they crossed and
recrossed until it hid them completely
from sight. Placing ones ear to this
shell the indefatigable worker NIGH
be heard continuing his appointed
tasks within. Two weeks later this
outside covering, which is absolutel,
air tight, was cut upon. Another shell
was found suspended from the first an(
within it there lay the caterpiller, n,
longer a brilliant green, but brown
and shriveled up, although still alive
Amazed by the ingenuity displayet
by such despised creature in fabIi
eating its home and fortifying itsel
against the rude blasts of winter, an,
desiring to learn more of the secret
connected with its life made visi
to Mr. Julius Meyer, Brooklyn's lead
ing entomologist, who has earned
worldwide reputation for many dis
coveries in this line. His collection o
moths is very large and comprehen
sive, the result in measure of hi
labors about Brooklyn and the suburbs
In conversation the following inter
csting information was gathered con
cerning this particular species:
Eggs placed by the parent mot
oftentimes in ring around the branc
of some tree change first into the cater
piller, then into the chrysalis and lastl
into the moth or perfect state, capabl
OF depositing eggs again, which under
go the same transformations. Whe
in the caterpillar state its true appear
ance is masked, as it were. Unde
this mask or skin the moth, such as
afterwards appears when perfect, lie
concealed, enveloped only in its tende
wings and putting on soft, pulp
appearance. Some have professe
themselves able to demonstrate ths
the moth with its wings existed in th
worm, though it bore but faint r,
semblance to its future perfection
The only alteration. therefore, unde
gone in the chrysalis state is chang
of skim"
When the caterpiller has come fro
the egg it makes its home at first
trees and. feeding upon the leaves,
there attains its full growth Afte
ward looking around for some suitab
spot to build a cocoon, instinct seen
10 teach it that trees exposed 10 win'
are insecure. and so. creeping dow
II seeks some lower and safer retrea
There it spins its chrysalis before d
scribed and remains in a dorma
state all winter until the metamorph
sis.is completed. What delicate hant
work of nature is exhibited by tn
change What infinite skill VIII
amazing design. What marvellous G
ecution.