306 SOCIAL LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD 



Hard as it is when once free of its sheath, the serrated 

 tibia would absolutely refuse to leave the latter, so closely 

 does it fit, unless it were torn to pieces. Yet the difficulty 

 must be evaded, for it is indispensable that the sheaths 

 of the legs should remain intact, in order to afford a firm 

 support until the insect is completely extricated. 



The leg in process of liberation is not the leg with 

 which the locust* makes its leaps ; it has not as yet 

 the rigidity which it will soon acquire. It is soft, and 

 eminently flexible. In those portions which the progress 

 of the moult exposes to view I see the legs bend under 

 the mere weight of the suspended insect when I tilt the 

 supporting cover. They are as flexible as two strips of 

 elastic indiarubber. Yet even now consolidation is 

 progressing, for in a few minutes the proper rigidity 

 will be acquired. 



Further along the limbs, in the portions which the 

 sheathing still conceals, the legs are certainly softer still, 

 and in the state of exquisite plasticity — I had almost 

 said fluidity — which allows them to pass through narrow 

 passages almost as a liquid flows. 



The teeth of the saws are already there, but have 

 nothing of their imminent rigidity. With the point of 

 a pen-knife I can partially uncover a leg and extract 

 the spines from their serrated mould. They are germs 

 of spines ; flexible buds which bend under the slightest 

 pressure and resume their position the moment the pres- 

 sure is removed. 



These needles point backwards as the leg is drawn out 

 of the sheath ; but they re-erect themselves and solidify 

 as they emerge. I am witnessing not the mere removal 

 of leggings from limbs already clad in finished armour, 



