FABRE'S BOOK OF INSECTS 



grub to make its way to its provisions, not by violence, 

 of which it is incapable, but by patiently slipping 

 through a maze of cracks. It is a very difficult task, 

 even for this slender worm, for the Bee's masonry is 

 exceedingly compact. There are no chinks due to bad 

 building, no cracks due to the weather. I see but one 

 weak point, and that only in a few nests : it is the line 

 where the dome joins the surface of the stone. This 

 weakness so seldom occurs that I believe the Anthrax- 

 grub is able to find an entrance at any spot on the dome 

 of the Bee's nest. 



The grub is extremely weak, and has nothing but 

 invincible patience. How long it takes to work its way 

 through the masonry I cannot say. The work is so 

 laborious and the worker so feeble! In some cases I 

 believe it may be months before the slow journey is ac- 

 complished. So it is very fortunate, you see, that this 

 first form of the Anthrax, which exists only in order to 

 pierce the walls of the Bees' nest, should be able to live 

 without food. 



At last I saw my young worms shrink, and rid them- 

 selves of their outer skin. They then appeared as the 

 grub I knew and was so anxiously expecting, the grub 

 of the Anthrax, the cream-colored cylinder with the little 

 button of a head. Fastening its round sucker to the 

 Bee-grub, it began its meal. You know the rest. 



Before taking leave of this tiny animal let us dwell 



[270] 



