The Life of the Weevil 



that there was nothing to predict them. The 

 course to be followed here seems indeed so 

 very simple. 



Since the rolled leaves are at the same 

 time board and lodging, we have but to pick 

 them, from the vine and the poplar respect- 

 ively, and to place them in the glass jars, 

 whence we can take them at such times as 

 we consider suitable. What used to be 

 effected in the open air, amid the disturbances 

 of the atmosphere, will be effected all the 

 better in the peaceful shelter of the glass. 

 There can be no doubt, therefore, of an easy 

 success. 



But what is this? From time to time I 

 unroll a few cigars to ascertain the state of 

 their contents. What I see fills me with 

 anxiety for the fate of my baby-farm. The 

 young larvae are very far from thriving. I 

 find some of them languishing and emaciated, 

 shrivelling into a wrinkled ball; I find some 

 of them dead. Vainly I possess myself in 

 patience: the weeks go by and not one of 

 my grubs grows or gives a sign of energy. 

 From day to day my two colonies dwindle 

 until they consist wholly of dying larvae. 

 164 



