CHAPTER IV 



THE BOTANICAL INSTINCT 



ly/TATERNITY, when It takes thought 

 •^ "*■ for the future, is the most fertile 

 prompter of Instinct. To the maternity that 

 prepares board and lodging for the family we 

 owe the wonderful achievements of the 

 Dung-beetles and of the Wasps and Bees. 

 The moment the mother confines herself to 

 laying eggs and becomes a mere germ-ifac- 

 tory, the Industrial talents disappear as use- 

 less. 



That bravely-plumed fine lady, the Pine 

 Cockchafer, digs the sandy soil with the tip 

 of her abdomen and buries herself in it la- 

 boriously right up to her head. Then a bun- 

 dle of eggs Is laid at the bottom of the exca- 

 vation; and that Is all, once the pit has been 

 filled by means of a casual sweeping. 



Constantly ridden by her male during the 



four weeks of July, the mother Capricorn 



explores the trunk of the oak at random; 



she slips her retractible oviscapt, here, there 



72 



