THE CAPRICORN 



of the Cherry-tree. They have the same organisation 

 and the same tools ; but the former follows the methods 

 of the Capricorn of the Oak, while the latter imitates the 

 Capricorn of the Cherry-tree. 



The poplar-tree is also inhabited by the Bronze Bu- 

 prestis, which takes no defensive measures before going 

 to sleep. It makes no barricade, no heap of shavings. 

 And in the apricot-tree the Nine-spotted Buprestis be- 

 haves in the same way. In this case the grub is inspired 

 by its intuitions to alter its plan of work to suit the 

 coming Beetle. The perfect insect is a cylinder; the 

 grub is a strap, a ribbon. The former, which wears 

 unyielding armour, needs a cylindrical passage; the 

 latter needs a very low tunnel, with a roof that it can 

 reach with the pads on its back. The grub therefore 

 changes its manner of boring: yesterday the gallery, 

 suited to a wandering life in the thickness of the wood, 

 was a wide burrow with a very low ceiling, almost a slot; 

 to-day the passage is cylindrical. A gimlet could not 

 bore it more accurately. This sudden change in the 

 system of roadmaking on behalf of the coming insect 

 once more shows us the foresight of this "bit of intes- 

 tme. 



I could tell you of many other wood-eaters. Their 

 tools are the same; yet each species displays special 

 methods, tricks of the trade that have nothing to do with 

 the tools. These grubs, then, like so many insects, show 



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