THE ELEPHANT-BEETLE 241 



But my interest is now awakened. On calm days, 

 more favourable to the entomologist, I return to the 

 woods, and I soon have sufficient insects to people my 

 laboratory cages. Foreseeing a serious difficulty in the 

 slowness with which the beetle labours, I prefer to 

 study them indoors, with the unlimited leisure only 

 to be found in one's own home. 



The precaution is fortunate. If I had tried to 

 continue as I began, and to observe the Balaninus 

 in the liberty of the woods, I should never, even with the 

 greatest good fortune, have had the patience to follow to 

 the end the choice of the acorn, the boring of the hole, 

 and the laying of the eggs, so meticulously deliberate 

 is the insect in all its affairs ; as the reader will soon be 

 able to judge. 



Three species of oak-tree compose the copse inhabited 

 by the Balaninus : the evergreen oak and the pubescent 

 oak, which would become fine trees if the woodman 

 would give them time, and the kermes oak, a mere 

 scrubby bush. The first species, which is the most 

 abundant of the three, is that preferred by the Balaninus. 

 The acorn is firm, elongated, and of moderate size ; 

 the cup is covered with little warts. The acorns of 

 the pubescent oak are usually stunted, short, wrinkled, 

 and fluted, and subject to premature fall. The aridity of 

 the hills of Serignan is unfavourable to them. The 

 Acorn-beetles accept them only in default of something 

 better. 



The kermes, a dwarf oak, a ridiculous tree which a 

 man can jump over, surprises me by the wealth of its 

 acorns, which are large, ovoidal growths, the cup being 

 covered with scales. The Balaninus could not make a 



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