The Life of the Weevil 



his rivals! Were man to disappear, an- 

 nihilated by his own follies, the springtide 

 festival would be no less solemnly celebrated 

 by the Blackbird's triumphant fluting. 



To the most deserving part played in 

 feasting the bird, the minstrel of the forests, 

 the Weevil adds another, that of moderating 

 the amount of vegetable lumber. Like all 

 the mighty really worthy of their power, 

 the oak is generous: it yields acorns by the 

 bushel. What could the earth do with this 

 abundance? The forest itself would be 

 stifled for lack of space; excess would ruin 

 the essential. 



But, as soon as victuals are plentiful, 

 there comes from every side a rush of con- 

 sumers only too eager to reduce the head- 

 long production. The Field-mouse, a native, 

 hoards acorns in a stone-heap, near her hay 

 mattress. A stranger, the Jay, arrives from 

 a distance, in flocks, apprised I know not 

 how. For some weeks he flies feasting from 

 oak to oak, giving vent to his joys and his 

 emotions by screeching like a strangled Cat; 

 then, having fulfilled his mission, he goes 

 back to the north whence he came. 



The Weevil has been beforehand with 

 io8 



