The Life of the Weevil 



spots where the larva will find food to their 

 liking? 



The Pieris ^ goes to the cabbage, in which 

 she has no personal interest. The plant, 

 compressed into a head, has not yet flowered. 

 Besides, its modest yellow blossoms have no 

 greater attraction for the Butterfly than an 

 infinity of other flowers distributed broad- 

 cast. The Vanessa ^ goes to the nettle, on 

 which her caterpillars will feast, but on which 

 the adult insect finds nothing to suck. 



When, in the summer gloaming, the Pine 

 Cockchafer has long been whirling in the 

 nuptial ballet around her favourite tree, she 

 refreshes herself after her fatigue by nibbling 

 a few pine-needles; then, with impetuous 

 flight, she goes in search of some bare, sandy 

 tract where the grass-roots lie decaying. 

 Here, as often as not, there is no resinous 

 aroma, there are no more pine-trees, the 

 delight of the plumed beauty; and it is in this 

 place, where nothing appeals to her own 



1 The Large White, or Cabbage, Butterfly. Cf. The 

 Life of the Caterpillar: chap. xiv. — Translator's Note. 



^ A genus of very decorative Butterflies, including such 

 well-known species as the Red Admiral, the Painted 

 Lady, the Camberwell Beauty, the Tortoiseshell Butter- 

 fly and the Peacock Butterfly. — Translator's Note. 

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