152 FABRE'S BOOK OF INSECTS 



It knows that the Capricorn, in his stiff armour, will never be 

 able to turn round and make for the opening of the cell ; and 

 it takes care to fall into its sleep of transformation with its 

 head towards the door. It knows how soft the pupa's flesh 

 will be, and it upholsters the bedroom with velvet. It knows 

 that the enemy is likely to break in during the slow work of 

 the transformation, and so, to make a protection against attack, 

 it stores lime inside its stomach. It knows the future with a clear 

 vision, or, to be accurate, it behaves as if it knew the future. 



What makes it act in this way ? It is certainly not taught 

 by the experiences of its senses. What does it know of the 

 outside world ? I repeat as much as a bit of intestine can 

 know. And this senseless creature astounds us ! I regret 

 that the philosopher Condillac, instead of creating a statue 

 that could smell a rose, did not gift it with an instinct. How 

 soon he would have seen that the animals including man 

 have powers quite apart from the senses ; inspirations that are 

 born with them, and are not the result of learning ! 



This curious life and this marvellous foresight are not 

 confined to one kind of grub. Besides the Capricorn of the 

 Oak there is the Capricorn of the Cherry-tree. In appearance 

 the latter is an exact copy of the former, on a much smaller 

 scale ; but the little Capricorn has different tastes from its 

 large kinsman's. If we search the heart of the cherry-tree it 

 does not show us a single grub anywhere : the entire popula- 

 tion lives between the bark and the wood. This habit is only 

 varied when transformation is at hand. Then the grub of 

 the cherry-tree leaves the surface, and scoops out a cavity at 

 a depth of about two inches. Here the walls are bare : they 

 are not lined with the velvety fibres dear to the Capricorn of 

 the Oak. The entrance is blocked, however, by sawdust, and 

 a chalky lid similar to the other except in point of size. Need 

 I add that the grub lies down and goes to sleep with its head 

 against the door ? Not one forgets to take this precaution. 



There is also a Saperda of the Poplar and a Saperda of 

 the Cherry-tree. They have the same organisation and the 

 same tools ; but the former follows the methods of the Capri- 



