CHAPTER IV 



THE BOTANICAL INSTINCT 



ly/TATERNITY, when it takes thought 

 for the future, is the most fertile 

 prompter of instinct. To the maternity that 

 prepares board and lodging for the family we 

 owe the wonderful achievements of the 

 Dung-beetles and of the Wasps and Bees. 

 The moment the mother confines herself to 

 laying eggs and becomes a mere germ-tfac- 

 tory, the industrial talents disappear as use- 

 less. 



That bravely-plumed fine lady, the Pine 

 Cockchafer, digs the sandy soil with the tip 

 of her abdomen and buries herself in it la- 

 boriously right up to her head. Then a bun- 

 dle of eggs is laid at the bottom of the exca- 

 vation; and that is all, once the pit has been 

 filled by means of a casual sweeping. 



Constantly ridden by her male during the 



four weeks of July, the mother Capricorn 



explores the trunk of the oak at random; 



she slips her retractible oviscapt, here, there 



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