FABRE'S BOOK OF INSECTS 



The hatching of the eggs takes place in the first fort- 

 night of July. The head and upper part of the little 

 grubs are of a glossy black, the next two segments are 

 brownish, and the rest of the body is a pale amber. They 

 are sharp, lively little creatures, who run about with 

 short, quick steps. 



For a time, after they are out of the bag where they are 

 hatched, they remain in the heap of fluff that was stripped 

 from their mother. Here there is more room, and more 

 comfort too, than in the bag whence they came ; and while 

 some take a rest, others bustle about and exercise them- 

 selves in walking. They are all picking up strength be- 

 fore leaving the outer case. 



They do not stay long amid this luxury. Gradually, 

 as they gain vigour, they come out and spread over the 

 surface of the case. Work begins at once, a very urgent 

 work — that of dressing themselves. By and by they 

 will think of food: at present nothing is of any import- 

 ance but clothes. 



Montaigne, when putting on a cloak which his father 

 had worn before him, used to say, "I dress myself in my 

 father." Well, the young Psyches in the same way dress 

 themselves in their mother. (In the same way, it must 

 be remembered; not in her skin, but in her clothes.) 

 From the outer case of sticks, which I have sometimes 

 described as a house and sometimes as a garment, they 



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