The Life of the Fly 



downy plug and dig to some depth before dis- 

 covering the eggs. The ovipositor has there- 

 fore lengthened its extensible tube and pushed 

 beyond the feather stopper driven in by the 

 lead. The eggs are in one packet; they num- 

 ber about three hundred. 



When the beak and eyes are rendered inac- 

 cessible, when the body, moreover, ' has no 

 wounds, the laying still takes place, but, this 

 time, in a hesitating and niggardly fashion. 

 I pluck the bird completely, the better to watch 

 what happens; also, I cover the head with a 

 paper hood to close the usual means of access. 

 For a long time, with jerky steps, the mother 

 explores the body in every direction ; she takes 

 her stand by preference on the head, which she 

 sounds by tapping on it with her front tarsi. 

 She knows that the openings which she needs 

 are there, under the paper; but she also knows 

 how frail are her grubs, how powerless to 

 pierce their way through the strange obstacle 

 which stops her as well and interferes with the 

 work of her ovipositor. The cowl inspires her 

 with profound distrust. Despite the tempt- 

 ing bait of the veiled head, not an egg is laid 

 on the wrapper, slight though it may be. 



Weary of vain attempts to compass this 

 obstacle, the Fly at last decides in favour of 

 :^22 



