The Locusts: the last Moult 



flows softly from his scabbard. It is as 

 though he were forced out by a gentle 

 spring. 



To return to the wings and wing-cases, 

 which have made no apparent progress since 

 leaving the sheaths. They are still stumps, 

 with fine longitudinal seams, not much more 

 than bits of rope. Their expansion, which 

 will take more than three hours, is reserved 

 for the end, when the insect is completely 

 stripped and in its normal position. 



We have seen the Locust turn head up- 

 permost. This upright position is enough 

 to restore the natural arrangement of the 

 wing-cases and wings. Being extremely flex- 

 ible and bent by their own weight, they were 

 hanging down with their loose end pointing 

 towards the head of the inverted insect. 

 Now, still by virtue of their own weight, they 

 are straightened and put the right way up. 

 They are no longer curved like the petals 

 of a flower, they are no longer in an inverted 

 position; but they still look miserably insig- 

 nificant. 



In its perfect state, the wing is fan-shaped. 

 A radiating cluster of strong nervures runs 

 through it lengthwise and forms the frame- 

 work of the fan, which is readily furled or 



413 



