The Psyches: the Cases 



Psyche frequents that plant. Why should he 

 not browse it? Let us try. 



The mouse-ear displays its little round flow- 

 ers in profusion in a stony field just beside my 

 house, at the foot of the wall where I have 

 so often found Psyche-cases hanging. I 

 gather a handful and distribute it among my 

 different folds. This time the food-problem 

 is solved. The Psyches forthwith settle in 

 solid masses on the hairy leaves and nibble at 

 them greedily in small patches, in which the 

 epidermis of the other surface remains un- 

 touched. 



We will leave them to their grazing, with 

 which they seem quite satisfied, and ask our- 

 selves a certain question relating to cleanli- 

 ness. How does the little Psyche get rid of 

 his digestive refuse? Remember that he is 

 enclosed in a sack. One dare not entertain 

 the thought of ordure ejected and accumula- 

 ting at the far end of the dazzling white plush 

 cap. Filth cannot dwell under so elegant a 

 covering. How is the sordid evacuation man- 

 aged? 



Despite the fact that it ends in a conical 

 point, in which the lens reveals no break of 

 continuity, the sack is not closed at the hind- 

 235 



