The Nut-Weevil 



a feature common to the Weevil tribe, all 

 of whom are inveterate stay-at-homes in 

 their larval stage. Such is the hermit whose 

 history follows below, the anchorite with the 

 sleek and rounded rump, the larva of the 

 Nut-weevil (Balaninus nucum, LIN.). 



The kernel of the hazel-nut is its cake, an 

 abundant provision, which it never or but 

 very seldom finishes entirely, so greatly do 

 the victuals exceed the utmost requirements 

 of obesity. There is plenty to enable one 

 alone to live comfortably for three or four 

 weeks; but it would mean short commons for 

 two. And so the victuals are scrupulously 

 rationed: to each nut its grub, no more. 



I have happened on very rare occasions 

 to find two. The late-comer, the offspring 

 of some ill-informed mother, had seated it- 

 self at table beside the other, without much 

 profit to itself. There was not much left 

 of the cake; moreover, the still feeble 

 intruder seemed to have had a bad reception 

 from the powerful and jealous owner of the 

 property. There was no doubt about it: the 

 superfluous weakling was doomed to perish. 

 The Weevil knows no more of mutual aid 

 among kinsmen than the Rat in the cheese. 

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