The Leucospes 



in my anxiety to follow the whole perform- 

 ance to the end, three long hours of immo- 

 bility for the insect, which is even more an- 

 xious to make sure of board and lodging for 

 its egg. But then is it not a task of the ut- 

 most difficulty to introduce a hair into the 

 thickness of a stone? To us, with all the dex- 

 terity of our fingers, it would be impossible; 

 to the insect, which simply pushes with its 

 belly, it is just hard work. 



Notwithstanding the resistance of the sub- 

 stance traversed, the Leucospis perseveres, 

 certain of succeeding; and she does succeed, 

 although 1 am still unable to understand her 

 success. The material through which the 

 probe has to penetrate is not a porous sub- 

 stance; it is homogeneous and compact, like 

 our hardened cement. In vain do I direct my 

 attention to the exact point where the instru- 

 ment is at work; I see no fissure, no opening 

 that can facilitate access. A miner's drill 

 penetrates the rock only by pulverizing It. 

 This method is not admissible here; the ex- 

 treme delicacy of the instrument is opposed 

 to it. The frail stem requires, so it seems to 

 me, a ready-made way, a crevice through 

 which it can slip ; but this crevice I have never 

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