CHAPTER VII 



THE POPLAR-WEEVIL 



/^ENERALLY speaking, the mother 

 ^-^ Weevil's attainments are limited to 

 slipping her eggs into places where the grubs 

 will find food to suit them and occasionally, 

 with wonderfully assured botanical tact, to 

 varying the diet. She does little or no indus- 

 trial work. The niceties of the baby-linen 

 or the feeding-bottle do not concern her. 

 To this uncouth maternity I know but one 

 exception, appertaining to certain Weevils 

 who, in order to endow their young with pre- 

 served food-stuffs, have the knack of rolling 

 a leaf, which serves as board and lodging in 

 one. 



Among these manufacturers of vegetable 

 sausages the most skilful is the Poplar- 

 weevil (Rhynchites populi, LIN'.), who is 

 of modest size but splendidly attired. Her 

 back glitters with gold and copper, her 

 abdomen with indigo-blue. Would you see 

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