The Cionus 



that disfigured it at first. It is lying at full 

 length on its ventral surface. 



3 P. M. — Under the skin, especially on 

 the back, the lens reveals subtle pulsations, 

 slight tremors, like those of a liquid surface 

 on the point of boiling. The dorsal vessel 

 itself is dilating and contracting, throughout 

 its length, more actively than usual. This 

 means a fit of fever. Some internal change 

 must be preparing, which will affect the whole 

 organism. Can it be the preparation for a 

 moult? 



5 p. M. — No, for the grub is no longer 

 motionless. It leaves its heap of dirt and 

 begins to move along impetuously, more rest- 

 lessly than ever. What is happening that is 

 in any way unusual? I think I can obtain 

 some idea of it with the aid of logic. 



Remember that the sticky coat in which the 

 grub is clad does not dry up: this is a con- 

 dition indispensable to liberty of movement. 

 If changed into a hard varnish, a dry film, 

 it would hamper, would indeed stop the 

 crawling; but, so long as it remains liquid, it 

 is the drop of oil that lubricates the loco- 

 motory machine. This moist coating will 

 however, constitute the material of the nym- 

 321 



