Caterpillars of Magpie Moth.
“That is quite correct, Frank, and I am glad you noticed the difference between the first three pairs and the others. The first three pairs are the creature’s real legs. The others are false or temporary legs.”
“There is a row of black spots on the yellow band along its side,” observed Tom.
“These are its breathing-holes, Tom. We breathe by our lungs only, but caterpillars and insects have breathing-tubes all over their bodies.”
“The woolly bear and the cabbage caterpillar move about in the same way,” said Frank. “But look at those currant caterpillars, Uncle George, what a funny way they have of getting along!”
“These belong to a kind of caterpillars known as ‘loopers,’” said his uncle. “They move about by looping up their bodies in this strange manner.”
“I do not like to handle those hairy caterpillars,” Tom remarked. “Why are they covered with those nasty long hairs?”
“You have just given the reason, Tom. You don’t like to touch them on account of these hairs; neither do animals. No bird will eat one of these. If he does, he will never eat another.
“Notice how they coil up like a hedgehog when they are touched. This makes them more difficult to swallow. Just imagine how a bird would feel with one of these ticklish customers stuck in his throat, eh?
“Now, boys, make a sketch of one of the tiny eggs, also one of the big cabbage caterpillar, and then we will go out and have a game of cricket on the lawn.”