The Pea-Weevil : The Larva 



finds infant-food within its reach, that is to 

 say, the layer which, being at some distance 

 from the surface, hardens slowly and retains 

 the dainty juices for a greater length of 

 time. This inner layer may be regarded as 

 the crumb of an otherwise crusty loaf. 



In the pea, which is a small sphere, it 

 occupies the central part, a limited area which 

 the grub has to reach or perish; in the bean, 

 a generous muffin, it includes the large joint 

 of the two flat seed-lobes. No matter where 

 the big seed is tackled, each larva need but 

 bore straight ahead and it quickly reaches 

 the coveted food. 



Then what happens? I add up the eggs 

 adhering to a bean-pod, I count the seeds 

 inside and, on comparing the two totals, I 

 find that there is plenty of room for the 

 whole family, at the rate of five or six to 

 each bean. Here we have no surplus larvae 

 dying of starvation almost as soon as they 

 leave the egg: all have their share of the 

 ample portion, all live and prosper. The 

 abundance of the provisions counterbalances 

 the mother's extravagance. 



If the Bruchus always adopted the broad 

 bean as the establishment of her family, I 

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