The Life of the Weevil 



What becomes of the items removed? 

 Are they thrown to the ground as inconve- 

 nient rubbish? The tiny creature is careful 

 not to do anything of the kind, which would 

 mean exposing its plump back, a small but 

 enticing morsel, to the eyes of the foe. 



Pushed back, the materials cleared away 

 remain intact, still clustered together in their 

 natural position. Not a flake, not a chip 

 falls to earth. By means of a quick-setting, 

 rain-proof glue, the whole of the fragments 

 detached are cemented to the base in a conti- 

 nuous sheaf, so that the blossom is kept in- 

 tact, save for the yellowish tint of the parts 

 wounded. As the grub increases in size, 

 more florets are cut away and take their 

 place, beside the others, in the roof, which 

 swells by degrees and ends by bulging out. 



Thus a quiet dwelling is obtained, shel- 

 tered from wind and weather and the heat of 

 the sun. Within, the hermit sips at his cask 

 in safety; he waxes big and fat. I suspected 

 it, that the larva would be able to make up 

 by its own industry for the rough and ready 

 installation of the egg! Where maternal 

 care is lacking, the grub possesses special 

 talents as a safeguard. 

 38 



