The Life of the Weevil 



size, a not very important characteristic, 

 from the Larini born in the regular cell. 

 He has thriven on the axilla of the leaf as 

 he would have done on the thistle-head. 



Let us admit that the accident is repeated, 

 that it even becomes a normal condition; let 

 us suppose that the mother decides to 

 abandon her blue balls and to confide her 

 eggs to the axillae of the leaves indefinitely. 

 What will this change bring about? The 

 answer is obvious. 



Since the grub has once developed without 

 hindrance on a site alien to its habits, it will 

 continue to thrive there from generation to 

 generation; with its intestinal cement it will 

 continue to shape a protective pitcher of the 

 same pattern as the old, but, for want of 

 materials, lacking the thatch of withered 

 florets; in short, its talents will remain what 

 they were in the beginning. 



This example tells us that the insect, as 

 long as it can accommodate itself to the novel 

 conditions imposed upon it, works in its 

 accustomed fashion; if it cannot do so, it dies 

 rather than change its methods. 



