192 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



sembles that of marrow. The grubs are procured in the following 

 manner : A cabbage-palm is cut down, and allowed to lie for at 

 least a fortnight ; at the expiration of that time, the palm is split 

 open, and in the interior are found the Tuchuto grubs. 



To return to the Palm Weevil. When the great, unwieldy larva 

 has attained its full growth, it constructs a large cocoon, made of 

 the stringy fibres which run along the stem of the palm, twisted 

 and intertwined so as to form a strong place of refuge during the 

 time of its helplessness. It is a remarkable fact, that many wood- 

 boring insects are in the habit of inclosing themselves in a strong 

 cocoon before they change into the pupal condition, though the 

 locality in which they live might seem to render them independ- 

 ent of any such protection. It is, however, very possible that the 

 object of the cocoon may be to save the inhabitant from some 

 other wood-boring insect, which might happen to drive its tunnel 

 through the helpless pupa, and that the cocoon might contain some 

 ingredients which are distasteful to the intruder, and would com- 

 pel it to turn aside and choose another path. Were it not for 

 some such protection, another insect might get into the burrow 

 made by the weevil grub, follow it up, come upon the pupa while 

 still inert and incapable of resistance, and either eat it, or at all 

 events inflict a serious injury upon it. 



There is a large group of beetles, which, in consequence of 

 their extremely long antennae, are called by the name of Longi- 

 cornes. In some species the antennas attain a wonderful length, 

 as for example, in Lamia cedilis, the antennae of which are five 

 times as long as the head and body together. We have several 

 examples in our own country, some of them being remarkable for 

 the beauty of their colors, as well as for the elegance of their forms. 

 The common Wasp Beetle {Clytus arielis) is a very good example 

 of the longicorn beetles. It may be seen upon the hedges, gently 

 slipping in and out with a curiously fussy movement, that very 

 much resembles the restless gestures of the insect from which it 

 takes its name. Its slender shape and yellow-striped body are 

 indeed so wasp-like, that many persons are afraid to touch one of 

 these beetles lest they should be stung. 



The early life of the Wasp Beetle is spent entirely in darkness, 

 the grubs burrowing into wood, and therein undergoing their trans- 

 formations. They are curious little beings, white, roundish, but 

 flattened; the rings of which the body is made are deeply marked, 



