The Bear Larinus 



takes place. Soon the mothers dive down 

 among the flowers and seed-plumes. 



A fortnight later, each head is feeding 

 one to four larvae, already far advanced. 

 Things go fast with the Larini : all must be 

 finished before the thistle-heads wither. 

 September is not over by the time that the 

 insect has assumed the adult form; but there 

 are still laggards at this period, represented 

 by nymphs and even by larvae. 



Built on the same plane as the Artichoke- 

 weevil's, the dwelling consists of a sheath 

 having for its base a basin hollowed in the 

 surface of the receptacle. In either case the 

 architecture is the same; so is the method 

 of work. A quilt of hairs, borrowed from 

 the seed-plumes and the mane-like fringe 

 of the receptacle, is heaped around the 

 grub and cemented with the lacquer of the 

 intestine. 



Outside this downy bed of wadding is 

 spread a further mattress, a layer of gran- 

 ular excrement. The artist has not thought 

 fit to employ its digestive refuse to greater 

 advantage. It has something better at its 

 disposal. Like the other Larini, it is able to 

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