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After the day’s work comes their dinner. The caterpillars come down from the nest and begin eating on the pine-needles below. It is a magnificent sight to see the redcoated band lined up in twos and threes on each needle and in ranks so closely formed that the green sprigs of the branch bend under the load. The diners, all motionless, all poking their heads forward, nibble slowly in silence. Their black foreheads gleam in the rays of my lantern. They eat far into the night. Then they go back to the nest, where for a little longer they continue spinning on the surface. It is one or two o’clock in the morning when the last of the band goes indoors.
一天的工作之后，它们吃晚饭。毛毛虫从巢里下来，开始在下面的松针上吃东西。这是一个宏伟的景象，看到红色涂层的带子在每根针上排成三三两两，排列得如此紧密，以至于树枝上的绿色小枝在负载下弯曲。所有的用餐者都一动不动，都把头伸出来，默默地慢慢吃着。它们黑色的额头在我的提灯的光线下闪闪发光。一直吃到深夜。然后它们回到巢穴，在那里继续在水面上旋转一段时间。队伍的最后一个成员在凌晨一两点钟回家。
To guide them as they wander about their tree, the caterpillars have their silk ribbon, formed by threads from their mouths. They follow this on their return to the nest. Sometimes they miss it and strike the ribbon made by another band of caterpillars. They follow it and reach a strange dwelling. No matter! There is not the least quarreling between the owners and the new arrivals. And all, when bedtime comes, start for the nest, like brothers who have always lived together.
为了方便在树上漫步，毛毛虫用嘴里的丝线织成了丝带。它们在返回巢穴时也会这样做。有时它们走错了，会撞上另一群毛毛虫织成的丝带。它们跟着它，来到一个奇怪的住所。没有关系！屋主和新来的屋主之间没有一点争吵。所有的虫在睡觉的时候，都会归巢，像兄弟一样总是住在一起。
