The Elephant Weevil 



What is the use of this stubborn perseverance 

 when, near the stalk, at the cost of much less 

 time and labour, the bradawl would reach 

 the desired point, the running spring whereat 

 the nascent grub is to slake its thirst? The 

 mother has her reasons for going to all this 

 trouble : by so doing she reaches the regular 

 spot, the base of the acorn, and by this very 

 action a most valuable result prepares a 

 long tube of meal for her son. 



These are all trivialities ! Not so, if you 

 please: matters of great importance rather, 

 telling us of the infinite cares that preside 

 over the preservation of the least of things 

 and bearing witness to a higher logic which 

 regulates the smallest details. 



The Weevil, so happily inspired as a 

 breeder, has her place in the world and is 

 worthy of consideration. So at least thinks 

 the Blackbird, who gladly makes a meal of 

 the long-beaked insect when the berries begin 

 to run short at the end of autumn. It is a 

 small mouthful but a tasty one ; and it makes 

 a pleasant change after the bitterness of the 

 olive that still resists the cold. 



And what were the reawakening of the 

 woods in spring, without the Blackbird and 

 107 



