Bramble-Dwellers 



the emancipation of those who come before 

 him; he would thus escape long waits, which 

 too often prove fatal. In point of fact, it is 

 no uncommon thing to find bramble-stalks in 

 which several Osmiae have died in their cells, 

 because the upper storeys were not vacated in 

 time. Yes, there would be a precious advant- 

 age in that lateral opening, which would not 

 leave each occupant at the mercy of his en- 

 vironment : many die that would not die. All 

 the Osmiae, when compelled by circumstances, 

 resort to this supreme method; all have the in- 

 stinct for lateral boring; but very few are able 

 to carry the work through. Only the favour- 

 ites of fate succeed, those more generously 

 endowed with strength and perseverance. 



If the famous law of natural selection, 

 which is said to govern and transform the 

 world, had any sure foundation; if really the 

 fittest removed the less fit from the scene; if 

 the future were to the strongest, to the most 

 industrious, surely the race of Osmiae, which 

 has been perforating bramble-stumps for ages, 

 should by this time have allowed its weaker 

 members, who go on obstinately using the com- 

 mon outlet, to die out and should have re- 

 placed them, down to the very last one, by the 



30 



