Rationing According to Sex 



the mother's body. If the egg-laying were 

 to precede the rationing, which occasionally 

 takes place, as with the Odyneri,^ for exam- 

 ple, we might imagine that the gravid mother 

 enquires into the sex of the egg, recognizes 

 it and stacks victuals accordingly. But, 

 whether destined to become a male or a fe- 

 male, the egg is always the same; the differ- 

 ences — and I have no doubt that there are 

 differences — are in the domain of the in- 

 finitely subtle, the mysterious, imperceptible 

 even to the most practised embryogenist. 

 What can a poor insect see — in the absolute 

 darkness of its burrow, moreover — where 

 science armed with optical instruments has 

 not yet succeeded in seeing anything? And 

 besides, even were it more discerning than 

 we are in these genetic obscurities, its visual 

 discernment would have nothing whereupon 

 to practise. As I have said, the egg is laid 

 only when the corresponding provisions are 

 stored. The meal is prepared before the 

 larva which is to eat it has come into the 

 world. The supply is generously calculated 

 by the needs of the coming creature; the 

 dining-room is built large or small to contain 



1 Cf. The Hunting IV asps: chaps, ii. and viii. — Trans- 

 lator's Note. 



227 



