The Clonus 



tered. In either case it is the work of an 

 unconscious ingenuity. The grub does not 

 plan its methods any more than the pimper- 

 nel: it has hit upon its ingenious scheme of 

 joining the halves of its capsule by the in- 

 spiration of instinct alone. 



More numerous than the capsules which 

 burst accurately are others which are clumsily 

 torn by a shapeless breach. Through this 

 some parasite must have emerged, some ruth- 

 less creature which, unacquainted with the 

 secret of the delicate joint, has released itself 

 by tearing the gold-beater's-skin. I find its 

 larva in cells which are not yet perforated. 

 It is a small, white grub, fixed to a discol- 

 oured tit-bit which is all that remains of the 

 Cionus' nymph. The intruder is sucking dry 

 the rightful occupant, whose budding flesh 

 is still quite tender. I think I can identify 

 the murderess as a bandit of the Chalcid 

 tribe, which is addicted to such massacres. 



Her appearance and her gluttonous ways 

 have not misled me. My rearing-jars pro- 

 vide me with abundant supplies of a small 

 bronze-coloured Chalcid with a large head 

 and a round, tapering body, but with no visi- 

 ble boring-tool. To enquire her name of the 

 329 



