Cecil is a con-man in caterpillar's clothing.  He has teamed up with a temporarily misguided Jeremy in a scheme to convince all the animals of the forest to bring them "sparklies"...gems, jewelry, etc.  Cecil has done this by convincing Jeremy to disguise himself as the Great Owl, and to pull of an act that they hope will convince the forest animals that it is in their best interests to keep bringing them tribute.  It's a low point for Jeremy, but Cecil's making the most of it, and has quite a flair for misdirection, double-talk, snarky jibes and the art of the con.  He's one slippery bug!  And yet, underneath that dishonest exterior is a good heart, and Cecil does eventually get the chance to prove it.

Quote: "So what are you waiting for?  Applause?  A candygram maybe?"

Origins of the character: This character does not appear in Robert C. O'Brien's book "Mrs. Frisby And The Rats Of NIMH", or in the original The Secret of NIMH.  He is seen solely in the sequel.