76 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO FRUIT. 



so hurried as now, I have patiently watched the whole process. It is one of the 

 exemplifications of insect instinct. The Curculio works and works at this little 

 cave leading from the middle of the concave side of the cut in the skin of the fruit, 

 until it attains the proper size for the easy passage of her thin-skinned and delicate 

 egg; and at the further end of that cave or passage-way she will carefully prepare the 

 chamber for its resting-place, larger than the passage-way, and with the adjacent pulp 

 of the fruit so deadened that the egg will not be dangerously pressed by subsequent 

 growth. This done, she withdraws the proboscis, or operating instrument, turns 

 round, and drops an egg at the mouth of the cave ; then turns again, and carefully 

 pushes it to its destined place, using her proboscis for the purpose, and assuming the 

 same position as when making the opening. If those who have seen the common 

 woodcock boring in the soft ground for food, will carefully watch this operation of the 

 little Curculio, they will be struck with the similarity of the positions of the two. 

 But all is not yet finished. This crescent-shaped cut in the skin of the fruit is now 

 carefully plastered up with a gummy deposit, of which she seems always to have the 

 requisite supply ; probably a necessary protection to prevent the separating of the 

 wound, and the consequent exposure of the egg. It is an instinctive operation, and 

 of course necessary and invariable. 



Any one who is curious to watch all these stages of the operation to advantage, 

 can do so by placing some Curculios in a large clean vial with some young fruit 

 Plum, Apple, Pear, Cherry, Apricot, Peach, or Quince the Japan Quince, or even 

 some of the wild berries. But I have found the following a more satisfactory way of 

 seeing this curious procedure than viewing it through glass. Thrust the point of a 

 knife into a young fruit, then present it to some Curculios that have been kept some 



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hours without having a chance to deposit eggs, and they will take to it at once, giving 

 you no trouble by trying to get away till the entire operation is completed. If your 

 knife has a blade at each end, the point of the other blade can be pushed into some 

 soft wood ; and thus, with the Curculio at the top of the fruit on the upper blade, 

 there will be a good chance of seeing all round. 



I now jar my plum trees every day, but so far have found no Curculios, except 

 three a week ago. 



May 23, 1863. (A year ago.) First marks on Plums and Pears. Caught 

 three Curculios on one Green Gage tree to-day. 



May 23, 1864. Have tried three Plum trees to-day but could find no Curculios, 

 though some Plums show marks. I now live in a city and have but a small garden. 



