The Cionus 



incapable of feeding a single grub in its fruit, 

 which is too small for the purpose. The 

 mother's ineptitude has led to decadence; the 

 perils of a wandering life have taken the 

 place of a peaceful, sedentary existence. The 

 species is on the high road to extinction. 



Again, we might argue as follows, at the 

 outset, the Cionus had the scollop-leaved 

 mullein as her portion; but, since the grubs 

 do not thrive when thus installed, the mother 

 is searching for a better means of setting 

 them up in life. Gradual experiment will 

 one day show her the way. From time to 

 time, indeed, I find her on Vervascttm maiale 

 or Verbascum thapsus, both of which have 

 large capsules; only she is there by accident, 

 in the course of a trip, thinking of obtaining 

 a good drink and not of laying her eggs. 

 Sooner or later, the future will establish her 

 there for the sake of her family. The species 

 is in process of improvement. 



By dressing up the matter in uncouth 

 phrases, calculated to conceal the vagueness 

 of the thought behind them, we might repre- 

 sent the Cionus as a magnificent example of 

 the changes which the centuries bring about 

 in the habits of insects. This would sound 



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