The Life of the Fly 



there was no limit to my perplexity. Was it 

 really the original larva of the Anthrax? Yes, 

 for I at last saw my bantlings transform them- 

 selves into the larva previously described and 

 make their first start at draining their victims 

 with kisses. A few moments of satisfaction 

 like those which I then enjoyed make up for 

 many a weary hour. 



Let us resume the story of the wee animal, 

 now recognized as the genuine origin of the 

 Anthrax. It is a tiny worm about a milli- 

 metre^ long and almost as slender as a hair. 

 It is very difficult to see because of its trans- 

 parency. When tucked away in a fold of the 

 skin of its fostering larva, an excessively fine 

 skin, it remains undiscoverable to the lens. 

 But the feeble creature is very active : it 

 tramps over the sides of the rich morsel, walks 

 all round it. It covers the ground pretty 

 quickly, buckling and unbuckling by turns, 

 very much after the manner of the Looper- 

 caterpillar. Its two extremities are its chief 

 points of support. When at a standstill, it 

 moves its front half in every direction, as 

 though to explore the space around it; when 

 walking, it swells out, magnifies its segments 

 and then looks like a bit of knotted string. 



\o39 inch. — Translator's Note. 



102 



