The Pea-Weevil: The Larva 



mean improvement. The race fares better 

 by remaining frugal. On her horse-bean, 

 on her everlasting pea, the Bruchus founded 

 colonies in which the infant mortality was 

 low. There was room for all. On the pea, 

 a delectable sweetmeat, the greater part of 

 the guests die of starvation. The rations 

 are few and the claimants legion. 



We will linger over this problem no 

 longer. Let us enquire into the grub which 

 has become the sole owner of the pea through 

 the death of its brothers. It has had no 

 part in that decease; chance has favoured it, 

 that is all. In the centre of the pea, a 

 luxurious solitude, it performs a grub's duty, 

 the one and only duty of eating. It gnaws 

 the walls around and enlarges its cell, which 

 it always fills completely with its fair round 

 belly. It is a plump and shapely creature, 

 glistening with health. If I tease it, it turns 

 lazily in its cell and wags its head. This 

 is its way of complaining of my rudeness. 

 Let us leave it in peace. 



The anchorite thrives so well and so fast 



that, by the dog-days, it is already making 



ready for its coming liberation. The adult 



has not the necessary tools to open for her- 



255 



