The Life of the Caterpillar: A literary excursion into the realm of the moth larva.

If I were advising the caterpillar, I should say:

"Go back to the art in which you excel; arrange your bundle neatly; point the cumbrous pieces lengthwise, in an orderly fashion; do something to your sack, which hangs too loosely; give it the necessary stiffness with a few props to act as a husk; do now, in your distress, what you knew so well how to do before; summon up your old carpentering-talents and you will be saved."

Useless advice! The time for carpentry is over. The hour has come for upholstering; and he upholsters obstinately, padding a house which no longer exists. He will perish miserably, cut up by the Ants, as the result of his too-rigid instinct.

Many other instances have already told us as much. Like running water which does not climb slopes and which does not flow back to its source, the insect never retraces its actions. What is done is done and cannot be recommenced. The Psyche, but now a clever carpenter, will die for want of knowing how to fix a beam.

I. THE PINE PROCESSIONARY: LAYING THE EGGS II. THE PINE PROCESSIONARY: THE NEST; THE COMMUNITY III. THE PINE PROCESSIONARY: THE PROCESSION IV. THE PINE PROCESSIONARY: METEOROLOGY V. THE PINE PROCESSIONARY: THE MOTH VI. THE PINE PROCESSIONARY: THE STINGING POWER VII. THE ARBUTUS CATERPILLAR VIII. AN INSECT VIRUS IX. THE PSYCHES: THE LAYING X. THE PSYCHES: THE CASES XI. THE GREAT PEACOCK XII. THE BANDED MONK XIII. THE SENSE OF SMELL XIV. THE CABBAGE-CATERPILLAR