FABRE'S BOOK OF INSECTS 



pillar's skin is empty. Once the meal is begun, the 

 creature does not budge as long as the food lasts. If 

 moved by force it hesitates, and hunts about for the 

 exact spot where it left off eating; for if the caterpillar 

 be attacked at a fresh point it is liable to go bad. 



In the case of the Anthrax-grub there is none of this 

 mangling, none of this persistent clinging to the original 

 wound. If I tease it with the tip of a pointed brush it at 

 once retires, and there is no wound to be seen on the 

 victim, no sign of broken skin. Soon the grub once more 

 applies its pimple-head to its meal, at any point, no 

 matter where, and keeps itself fixed there without any 

 effort. If I repeat the touch with the brush I see the 

 same sudden retreat and the same calm return to the 

 meal. 



The ease with which this larva grips, leaves, and re- 

 grips its victim, now here, now there, and always with- 

 out a wound, shows that the mouth of the Anthrax is not 

 armed with fangs that can dig into the skin and tear it. 

 If the flesh were gashed by pincers of any kind, one or 

 two attempts would be necessary before they could leave 

 go or take hold again; and besides, the skin would be 

 broken. There is nothing of the kind : the grub simply 

 glues its mouth to its prey, and withdraws it. It does 

 not chew its food like the other flesh-eating grub: it 

 does not eat, it inhales. 



This remarkable fact led me to examine the mouth 



[252] 



