248 SOCIAL LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD 



is the reason for her prolonged and deliberate examina- 

 tion. 



The search is concluded ; the acorn is recognised as un- 

 occupied. The drill is applied to the surface and rotated 

 for hours ; then, very often, the insect departs, disdaining 

 the result of her work. Why such protracted efforts ? 

 Was the beetle piercing the fruit merely to obtain drink 

 and refreshment ? Was the beak thrust into the depths 

 of the base merely to obtain, from the choicer parts, 

 a few sips of nutritious sap ? Was the whole under- 

 taking merely a matter of personal nourishment ? 



At first I believed this to be the solution, though 

 surprised at the display of so much perseverance 

 rewarded by the merest sip. The behaviour of the 

 males, however, forced me to abandon this idea. They 

 also possess the long beak, and could readily make such 

 perforations if they wished ; yet I have never seen one 

 take up his stand upon an acorn and work at it with his 

 augur. Then why this fruitless labour ? A mere nothing 

 suffices these abstemious creatures. A superficial opera- 

 tion performed upon the surface of a tender leaf yields 

 them sufficient sustenance. 



If the males, the unoccupied males who have leisure 

 to enjoy the pleasures of the palate, ask no more than 

 the sap of the leaf, how should the mothers, busied with 

 the affairs of the breeding-season, find time to waste 

 upon such dearly bought pleasures as the inner juices of 

 the acorn ? No, the acorn is not perforated for the 

 purpose of drinking its juices. It is possible that once 

 the beak is deeply sunk, the female may take a mouthful 

 or two, but it is certain that food and drink are not the 

 objects in view. 



