The Progress. [volume] (White Earth, Minn.) 1886-1889, 1888-04-14
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 Specimens.

Residents of Brooklyn during August
and September OF last year might have
noticed creeping down the trunks of
trees OF 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
glance of casual interest. some moro
curious might have witnessed their
actions when touched with n 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-tiye degrees. and then at a
seemingly understood signal they sud-
denly swung their heads around and
"whack;' one OF the other is knocked
down by 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 lie ting 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
silken 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 caterpiller, no
longer a brilliant green, but brown
and shriveled up although still alive.
Amazed by the ingenuity displayed
by such a despised creature in fabri-
eating its home and fortifving itself
against the rude blasts of winter, and
desiring to learn more of the secrets
connected with it's life, l made visit
to Mr.. Julius Meyer, BrookIyn's lead
ing entomologist, who has earned a
worldwide reputation for many dis
coveries 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 a ring around the branch
of some tree change first into the cater
piller, then into the chrysalis and lastly
into the mosh 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 We're. 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 q soft, pulpy
appearance. So".e k:vc protested
themselves able to demonstrate that
the moth with its wings existed in the
worm, though it bore but a faint re-
semblance to its future perfection.
The only alteration, therefore, under
gone in the chrysalis state is change
of skin.''
When the caterpillar has come from
the egg it makes it's 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 a cocoon, instinct seems
to teach it that trees exposed TO 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-