THE GREY LOCUST 307 



but a kind of creation which amazes one by its 



promptitude. 



Very much in the same way, but with far less delicate 

 precision, the claws of the crayfish, at the period of the 

 moult, withdraw the soft flesh of their double fingers 

 from their stony sheath. 



Finally the long stilt-like legs are free. They are 

 folded gently against the furrowed thighs, thus to 

 mature undisturbed. The abdomen begins to emerge. 

 Its fine tunic-like covering splits, and wrinkles, but still 

 encloses the extremity of the abdomen, which adheres to 

 the moulted skin for some little time longer. With the 

 exception of this one point the entire insect is now 

 uncovered. 



It hangs head downwards, like a pendulum, supported 

 by the talons of the now empty leg-cases. During the 

 whole of the lengthy and meticulous process the four 

 talons have never yielded. The whole operation has 

 been conducted with the utmost delicacy and prudence 



The insect hangs motionless, held by the tip of the 

 abdomen. The abdomen is disproportionately dis- 

 tended ; swollen, apparently, by the reserve of organis- 

 able humours which the expansion of the wings and 

 wing-covers will presently employ. Meanwhile the 

 creature rests and recovers from its exertions. Twenty 

 minutes of waiting elapse. 



Then, exerting the muscles of the back, the suspended 

 insect raises itself and fixes the talons of the anterior 

 limbs in the empty skin above it. Never did acrobat, 

 hanging by the toes to the bar of a trapeze, raise himself 

 with so stupendous a display of strength in the loins. 

 This gymnastic feat accomplished, the rest is easy. 



