The Life of the Weevil 



the dwarf, such a bungler in appearance, 

 who by dint of patience builds the prettiest 

 house. 



At other times she exploits the common 

 oak, the English oak, whose leaves are 

 broader and more deeply indented than those 

 of the ilex, or holm-oak. On the spring 

 shoots she selects the topmost leaves, of 

 average size and medium consistency. If 

 the position suit her, five, six or more little 

 kegs will be dangling from the same twig. 



Whether it settle on the holm-oak or on 

 the common oak, the insect begins by incising 

 the leaf, at some distance from the base, to 

 the right and left of the median vein, while 

 respecting the vein itself, which will provide 

 a solid attachment. Then the Apoderus' 

 method is repeated: the leaf, rendered more 

 tractable by the two incisions, is folded 

 lengthwise, with the upper surface inside. 

 All these leaf-rollers, cigar-makers and 

 coopers alike, know how to overcome the 

 resilience of a leaf by means of punctures 

 or incisions; all are thoroughly versed in that 

 principle of statics according to which the 

 surface whose elasticity is the greater will 

 be found on the convex aspect of the curve. 

 i86 



