The Crioceres 



the heaps with a straw. We uncover, indeed 

 we unclothe an ugly, pot-bellied, pale-orange 

 larva. It is the grub of the Crioceris. 



The origin of the garment of which we 

 have just stripped it would be unmentionable, 

 save in the world of the insect, that manu- 

 facturer devoid of shame. This doublet is, 

 in fact, obtained from the creature's excre- 

 tions. Instead of evacuating downwards, on 

 the superannuated principle, the Crioceris' 

 larva evacuates upwards and receives upon 

 its back the waste products of the intestine, 

 materials which move from back to front as 

 each fresh pat is dabbed upon the others. 

 Reaumur has complacently described how the 

 quilt moves forward from the tail to the 

 head by wriggling along inclined planes, 

 making so many dips in the undulating back. 

 There is no need to return to this stercoral 

 mechanism after the master has done with it. 



We now know the reasons that procured 

 the Lily-beetle an ignominious title, confined 

 to the official records: the grub makes itself 

 an overcoat of its excrements. 



Once the garment is completed so as to 

 cover the whole of the creature's dorsal sur- 

 face, the clothing-factory does not cease work 

 on that score. At the back a fresh hem is 

 added from moment to moment; but the 

 413 



