The Life of the Weevil 



have no doubt long been chipping with the 

 points of their mandibles, that patient chisel, 

 at the hard wall. The exit-hole is just 

 finished when I take note of the coming 

 departure. A fine dust is falling by way of 

 shavings. 



The window of release is distinct from the 

 narrow aperture of the entrance. Perhaps 

 it will not do to obstruct this grating, which 

 ventilates the house, while the grub is still 

 at work. The window aforesaid is situated 

 at the base of the fruit, close to the rough 

 surface by which the nut adheres to its cupule. 

 In this region, where the incipient materials 

 are elaborated until the nut is perfectly ripe, 

 the density is a little less than elsewhere. 

 The point to be perforated is excellently 

 chosen therefore: it is here that the least 

 resistance will be encountered. 



Without any preliminary auscultation, 

 without exploratory soundings, the recluse 

 knows the weak point of his prison. Con- 

 fident of success, he works away with a will. 

 Where the first blow of the pick is struck 

 the others follow; no time is wasted on ex- 

 periments. Persistence is the strength of the 

 weak. 



126 



