The Spotted Larinus 



by their opaline tint, the fact that they are 

 fairly full; while the lower portion of the 

 intestine is dilated with a pulpy substance 

 which conspicuously attracts the eye. 



It is a semi-fluid, viscous, treacly material 

 of a muddy white. I perceive that it 

 contains an abundance of opaque corpuscles, 

 like finely powdered chalk, which effervesce 

 when dissolved in nitric acid and are there- 

 fore uric products. 



This very soft pulp is, beyond a doubt, the 

 cement which the grub ejects and collects 

 drop by drop ; and the rectum is obviously the 

 bitumen-warehouse. The parity of aspect, 

 colour and treacly consistency are to me 

 decisive: the grub consolidates and cements 

 and creates a work of art with the refuse 

 from its sewer. 



Is this really an excremental residue? 

 Doubts may be permitted. The four Mal- 

 pighian tubes which have poured the 

 powdered urates into the intestine might well 

 supply it with other materials. They do not 

 in general seem to perform very exclusive 

 duties. Why should they not be entrusted 

 with various functions in a poorly-equipped 

 organism ? They fill with a chalky broth to 

 43 



