Sir Joseph Banks depicted as a caterpillar (1795) by James Gillray in a satirical print. In the day, “caterpillars” were the subject of outlandish etymological speculation. Richard Twiss (travel writer) in a letter to Francis Douce (late 1700’s): A caterpillar resembles a cat in being alive & having eyes, legs & guts, & that is all. We might as well compare a wasp to a wheelbarrow.

Sir Joseph Banks depicted as a caterpillar (1795) by James Gillray in a satirical print.

In the day, “caterpillars” were the subject of outlandish etymological speculation. Richard Twiss (travel writer) in a letter to Francis Douce (late 1700’s): A caterpillar resembles a cat in being alive & having eyes, legs & guts, & that is all. We might as well compare a wasp to a wheelbarrow.