The Bluebottle : The Grub 



mained wholly undamaged on the belly, the 

 breast and every part that was not in touch 

 with the ground. It looks as though they had 

 fled from comfort to seek a less kindly dwell- 

 ing-place. When the hour of transformation 

 came, all left the Owl, that most excellent 

 lodging; all dived into the sand. 



The exodus from the mortuary tabernacle 

 was made through the round holes wherewith 

 the skin is pierced. Those holes are the worms' 

 work: of that there is no doubt; and yet 

 we have lately seen the mothers refuse as a 

 bed for their eggs any part whereat the flesh 

 is protected by a skin of some thickness. The 

 reason is the failure of the pepsin to act on 

 epidermic substances. In the absence of lique- 

 faction at such points, the nourishing gruel is 

 unprocurable. On the other hand, the tiny 

 worms are not able — or, at least, do not know 

 how — to dig through the integument with 

 their pair of guttural harpoons, to rend it and 

 reach the liquefiable flesh. The new-born lack 

 strength and, above all, purpose. But, as the 

 time comes for descending into the earth, the 

 worms, now powerful and suddenly versed in 

 the necessary art, well know how to eat away 

 patiently and clear themselves a passage. With 

 the hooks of their spikes they dig, scratch and 

 355 



