FABRE'S BOOK OF INSECTS 



in its place, intact in the smallest particular, but look- 

 ing strange with its great eyes that do not see. The 

 sheaths of the antennae, without a wrinkle, with nothing 

 out of order, and with their usual position unchanged, 

 hang over this dead face, which is now half transparent. 



This means that the antennae within, although fitted 

 into narrow sheaths that enclose them as precisely as 

 gloves, are able to withdraw without disturbing the 

 covers in the smallest degree, or even wrinkling them. 

 The contents manage to slip out as easily as a smooth, 

 straight object could slip from a loose sheath. This 

 mechanism is even more remarkable in the case of the 

 hind-legs. 



Now it is the turn of the fore-legs and intermediary 

 legs to shed their armlets and gauntlets, always without 

 the least rent, however small, without a crease of rumpled 

 material, or a trace of any change in the natural position. 

 ,The insect is now fixed to the top of the cage only by the 

 claws of the long hind-legs. It hangs perpendicularly 

 by four tiny hooks, head downwards, and it swings like a 

 pendulum if I touch the wire-gauze. 



The wing-cases and wings now emerge. These are 

 four narrow strips, faintly grooved and looking like bits 

 of paper ribbon. At this stage they are scarcely a quarter 

 of their final length. They are so limp that they bend 

 under their own weight and sprawl along the insect's sides 

 in the wrong direction, with their points towards the head 



[244] 



