The Locusts: the last Moult 



with two parallel sets of teeth and so power- 

 ful that, if we dismiss the size from our 

 minds, it might be compared with the rough 

 saw wielded by a quarryman. 



The larva's shin is similarly constructed, 

 so that the object to be extracted is con- 

 tained in a sheath as awkwardly shaped as 

 itself. Each spur is enclosed in a similar 

 spur, each tooth fits into the hollow of a 

 similar tooth; and the moulding is so exact 

 that we should obtain no more intimate con- 

 tact if, instead of the envelope waiting to 

 be shed, we coated the limb with a layer of 

 varnish distributed uniformly with a fine 

 brush. 



Nevertheless the sawlike tibia slips out of 

 its long, narrow case without catching in it 

 at any point whatever. If I had not seen 

 this happen over and over again, I could 

 never have believed it: the discarded legging 

 is quite intact all the way down. Neither the 

 terminal spurs nor the two rows of spikes 

 have caught in the delicate mould. The saw 

 has respected the dainty scabbard which a 

 puff of my breath is enough to tear; the 

 formidable rake has slipped through without 

 leaving the least scratch behind it. 



I was far from expecting such a result as 



407 



