The Mason-Wasps 



rounded by black hairs, spins itself, at the 

 foot of the almond-trees, a robust cocoon 

 whose ingenious construction has long been 

 celebrated. At the moment of her deliver- 

 ance, the Mulberry Bombyx * has in her 

 stomach a particular solvent which the new- 

 born Moth disgorges against the wall of the 

 cocoon to soften it, to dissolve the gum that 

 sticks the threads together and in this way 

 to force an exit by the mere pressure of her 

 head. With the aid of this reagent, the 

 recluse is able triumphantly to attack her 

 silken prison at the fore-end, the rear-end 

 or the side, as I discover by turning the 

 chrysalis in its cocoon, which I slit with a 

 pair of scissors and then sew up again. 

 Whatever the spot to be perforated for the 

 emergence, a spot which my intervention 

 varies at will, the liquid disgorged promptly 

 soaks into and softens the wall, whereupon 

 the captive, struggling with her fore-limbs 

 and pushing her forehead against the tangle 

 of unstuck threads, makes herself a passage 

 with the same ease as in her natural libera- 

 tion. 



The Great Peacock is not endowed with 

 this method of delivery by means of a solv- 



1 Bombyx mori, the Moth of the Silkworm. — Trans- 

 lator's Note. 



118 



