CHAPTER XXIX 



VENOMOUS INSECTS 



T7"OU have heard that certain creatures emit 

 JL poison, that is to say, shoot from a distance 

 into the face and on to the hands of those who ap- 

 proach a liquid capable of causing death, or at least 

 of blinding or otherwise injuring them. Last wook 

 Jules found on the leaves of the potato-vines a large* 

 caterpillar armed with a curved horn." 



"I know, I know," put in Jules. "It is the cater- 

 pillar, you told me, that turns into a magnificent 

 butterfly called the sphinx Atropos. This butterfly, 

 large as my hand, has on its back a white spot that 

 frightens many people, for it has a vague resem- 

 blance to a death's-head. And besides, its eyes 

 shine in the dark. You added that it was a harm- 

 less creature of which it would be unreasonable to 

 be afraid." 



"Jacques, who was weeding the potatoes," con- 

 tinued Uncle Paul, " knocked the sphinx caterpillar 

 out of Jules 's hands, and hastened to crush it with 

 his big wooden shoe. 'What you are doing is very 

 dangerous, 1 said the good Jacques. 'Handling 

 poisonous creatures of all things! Do you see 

 that green venom? Don't get too close; the silly 

 thing is not quite dead; it might yet throw some 

 poison on you.' The worthy man took the green 



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