THE WEEVIL. 



Nut weevil Singular changes and growth. 



pended, and that which is the principal food al- 

 lotted to him by nature while in a larva state. 

 While feeding, he constantly attends^to the hole 

 by which he entered, gnawing away the sides, 

 so as to make them very round and smooth ; for 

 this not only allows him sufficient air, and a place 

 through which he can expel the particles of his 

 dung, but it is also the passage through which, 

 when he is full fed, and ready to undergo his 

 change, he makes his way out. About the month 

 of September, or perhaps somewhat later, the 

 nut becomes ripe and falls to the ground. At 

 this time he is generally prepared for the change, 

 and works himself through the hole, which he is 

 some time in doing, as it is much less in circum- 

 ference than his body. He then buries himself 

 in t he earth, and, shortly after, changes into a 

 chrysalis, in which state he remains till the fol- 

 lowing spring, and about the beginning of May 

 assumes his beetle form. The insect, when in 

 this state, is about a quarter of an inch in length^ 

 and of a grey-brown colour. The body is some- 

 what of an oval shape, having the posterior ex- 

 tremity not rounded off, but ending in a point 

 The beak, or rostrum, is red ; and as long as the 

 body. c,<i *taH 



VOL. vi. NO. 44. 



