A curious species of manufacture was contrived by an officer of
engineers residing at Munich. It consisted of lace veils, with open
patterns on them, made entirely by caterpillars. Having made a paste of
the leaves of the plant on which the insect feeds, he spread it thinly
over a stone, or other flat substance, of the required size. He then,
with a camel's hair pencil dipped in olive oil, drew a pattern he
wished the insects to leave open. This stone was then placed in an
inclined position, and a number of caterpillars were placed at the
bottom. A peculiar species was chosen, which spins a strong web, and
the animals commenced at the bottom, eating and spinning their way up
to the top, carefully avoiding every part touched by the oil, but
devouring every other part of the paste. The extreme lightness of these
veils, combined with their strength, is surprising.