THE CAPRICORN 



skill. I tried enclosing some in reed-stumps, but even 

 this comparatively easy work was too much for them. 

 Some freed themselves, but others failed. 



Notwithstanding his stalwart appearance the Capri- 

 corn cannot leave the tree-trunk by his own unaided 

 efforts. The truth is that his way is prepared for him by 

 the grub — that bit of intestine. 



Some presentiment — to us an unfathomable mystery 

 ' — causes the Capricorn-grub to leave its peaceful strong- 

 hold in the very heart of the oak and wriggle towards 

 the outside, where its foe the Woodpecker is quite likely 

 to gobble it up. At the risk of its life it stubbornly digs 

 and gnaws to the very bark. It leaves only the thinnest 

 film, the slenderest screen, between itself and the world 

 at large. Sometimes, even, the rash one opens the door- 

 way wide. 



This is the Capricorn's way out. The insect has but 

 to file the screen a little with his mandibles, to bump 

 against it with his forehead, in order to bring it down. 

 He will even have nothing at all to do when the door- 

 way is open, as often happens. The unskilled car- 

 penter, burdened with his extravagant head-dress, will 

 come out from the darkness through this opening when 

 the summer heat arrives. 



As soon as the grub has attended to the important 

 business of making a doorway into the world, it begins 

 to busy itself with its transformation into a Beetle. 



[219] 



