The Colours of A nimals. 8 1 



opportunity, they pass from the male to the female 

 bee. Guided by these indications, M. Fabre exa- 

 mined several cells of the bee ; in some, the egg of 

 the bee floated by itself on the surface of the honey ; 

 in others, on the egg, as on a raft, sat the still more 

 minute larva of the Sitaris. The mystery was 

 solved. At the moment when the egg is laid, the 

 Sitaris larva springs upon it. Even while the poor 

 mother is carefully fastening up her cell, her mortal 

 enemy is beginning to devour her offspring ; for 

 the egg of the bee serves not only as a raft, but as 

 a repast. The honey, which is enough for either, 

 would be too little for both ; and the Sitaris, there- 

 fore, at its first meal, relieves itself from its only 

 rival. After eight days the egg is consumed, and 

 on the empty shell the Sitaris undergoes its first 

 transformation, and makes its appearance in a very 

 different form. 



II. The honey, which was fatal before, is now- 

 necessary the activity, which before was necessary, 

 is now useless ; consequently, with the change of 

 skin, the active, slim larva changes into a white fleshy 

 grub, so organised as to float on the surface of the 

 honey, with the mouth beneath and the breathing- 

 holes above the surface ; for insects breathe, not as 

 we do through the mouth, but through a row of 

 holes arranged along the side. In this state it 

 remains until the honey is consumed ; then the 

 animal contracts, and detaches itself from its skin, 

 within which the further transformations take place. 



G 



