The Primary Larva of the Shares 



called upon to move on an ordinary surface. 

 The spot, whatever it may be like, where this 

 larva is to live later exposes it to the risk of 

 many dangerous falls, since, in order to pre- 

 vent them, it is not only equipped with strong 

 and extremely mobile talons and a steel-shod 

 crescent, a sort of ploughshare capable of 

 biting into the most highly polished substance, 

 but is further provided with a viscous liquid, 

 sufficiently tenacious and adhesive to hold it 

 in position without the help of other appli- 

 ances. In vain I racked my brains to guess 

 what the substance might be, so shifting, so 

 uncertain and so perilous, which the young 

 Sitares are destined to inhabit; and I disco- 

 vered nothing to explain the necessity for the 

 structure which I have described. Convinced 

 beforehand, by an attentive examination of 

 this structure, that I should witness some 

 peculiar habits, I waited with eager impa- 

 tience for the return of the warm weather, 

 never doubting that by dint of persevering 

 observation the mystery would be disclosed 

 to me next spring. At last this spring, so 

 fervently desired, arrived ; I brought to bear 

 all the patience, all the imagination, all the 

 insight and discernment that I may possess; 

 but, to my utter shame and still greater re- 

 gret, the secret escaped me. Oh, how pain- 

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