The Life of the Fly 



show itself again. But there is one precaution 

 to be taken first. With its front tarsi, the in- 

 sect carefully brushes the bump about to dis- 

 appear from view, lest grit should lodge in the 

 cranium when the two halves of the head are 

 joined for good. 



The maggot is aware of the trials that 

 await it when, as a Fly, it will have to come up 

 from under ground; it knows beforehand how 

 difficult the ascent will be with the feeble in- 

 strument at its disposal, so difficult, in fact, as 

 to become fatal should the journey be at all 

 prolonged. It foresees the dangers ahead of 

 it and averts them as well as it can. Gifted 

 with two iron-shod sticks in its throat, it can 

 easily descend to such depths as it pleases. 

 The need for greater quiet and a less trying 

 temperature calls for the deepest possible 

 home : the lower down it is, the better for the 

 welfare of the worm and the pupa, on con- 

 dition that descent be practicable. It is, per- 

 fectly; and yet, though free to obey its inspira- 

 tion, the grub refrains. I rear it in a deep 

 pan, full of fine, dry sand, easy to excavate. 

 The interment never goes very far. About a 

 hand's-breadth is all that the most progressive 

 digger ventures upon. Most of the interred 

 remain nearer still to the surface. Here, un- 

 360 



