The Life of the Weevil 



from the stalk. At the hatching, the grub, 

 incapable as yet of tackling the firm sub- 

 stance of the seed-lobes, chews the delicate 

 felt at the bottom of the cup and feeds upon 

 its juices. 



But, as the fruit matures, this cake 

 becomes more solid and changes in flavour 

 and in the consistency of its pulp. What 

 was soft hardens, what was moist dries up. 

 There is a period during which the conditions 

 necessary to the new-born grub's welfare are 

 fulfilled to perfection. At an earlier stage, 

 things would not have reached the requisite 

 degree of preparation; later, they would be 

 too ripe. 



Outside, on the green rind of the acorn, 

 there is nothing to show the progress of this 

 inner cooking. In order not to serve her 

 grub with noxious food, the mother, inad- 

 equately informed by the sight of the acorn, 

 is therefore obliged first to taste with the 

 tip of her proboscis what lies at the bottom 

 of the store-room. 



The nurse, before giving baby his spoonful 



of pap, puts her lips to it to try it. The 



mother Weevil in the same way, with no 



less affection, dips her probe to the bottom 



104 



