LOCUSTS 167 



One would expect that, because of the spiked armour, the 

 envelope of the leg would strip off in scales coming loose of 

 themselves, or would be rubbed off like dead skin. But the 

 reality exceeds all possible expectation. From the spurs and 

 spikes of the infinitely thin envelope there are drawn spurs 

 and spikes so strong that they can cut soft wood. This is 

 done without violence, the discarded skin remains where it 

 was, hanging by the claws to the top of the cage, uncreased 

 and untorn. The magnifying-glass shows not a trace of rough 

 usage. 



If it were suggested that one should draw out a saw from 

 some sort of gold-beater's skin sheath which had been exactly 

 moulded on the steel, and that one should perform the opera- 

 tion without making the least tear, one would simply laugh. 

 The thing would be impossible. Yet Nature makes light of 

 such impossibilities ; she can realise the absurd, in case of need. 



The difficulty is overcome in this way. While the leg is 

 being liberated it is not rigid, as it will presently be. It is soft 

 and highly flexible. Where it is exposed to view I see it bend- 

 ing and curving : it is as supple as elastic cord. And farther 

 on, where it is hidden, it is certainly still softer, it is almost 

 fluid. The teeth of the saw are there, but have none of their 

 future sharpness. The spikes lie backwards when the leg is 

 about to be drawn back : as it emerges they stand up and 

 become solid. A few minutes later the leg has attained the 

 proper state of stiffness. 



And now the fine tunic is wrinkled and rumpled, and 

 pushed back along the body towards the tip. Except at this 

 point the Locust is bare. After a rest of twenty minutes he 

 makes a supreme effort ; he raises himself as he hangs, and 

 grabs hold of his cast skin. Then he climbs higher, and fixes 

 himself to the wire of the cage with his four front feet. He 

 loosens the empty husk with one last shake, and it falls to 

 the ground. The Locust's transformation is conducted in 

 much the same way as the Cicada's. 



The insect is now standing erect, and therefore the flexible 



