The Life of the Weevil 



ducts conveying the sap; a scanty flow still 

 persists and for some time maintains a certain 

 flexibility in the leaf, especially in the centre 

 of the spiral, which is not exposed to the 

 action of the sun. Consequently the new- 

 born grub has fresh provisions within reach 

 of its mandibles. It waxes big and strong 

 and acquires a stomach able to satisfy itself 

 with less tender food. 



Meantime, from day to day, the roll turns 

 brown and dry. If it remained indefinitely 

 hanging on the bough and if, as often 

 happens, there were a lack of moisture at 

 nights, it would dry up completely and its 

 inmates would perish as they did in my glass 

 jars. But, sooner or later, the wind shakes 

 them off and they drop to the ground. 



Their fall is the salvation of the grub, 

 which is still very far from full-grown. At 

 the foot of the poplar, under the grass of 

 the meadow subject to frequent Irrigation, 

 the soil is always damp; at the foot of the 

 vine-stock, the earth, overshadowed by the 

 branches, fairly well retains the moisture of 

 the last showers. Lying In the wet and 

 sheltered from the direct onslaughts of the 

 i66 



