The Life of the Grasshopper 



tion has been practicable and has given satis- 

 factory results. It becomes impossible when 

 we come to the very complex structure of 

 that middle zone where exits are contrived 

 for the emergence of the larvae under the 

 shelter of a double row of imbricated plates. 

 The little that I am able to make out amounts 

 to this: the tip of the abdomen, split wide 

 from top to bottom, forms a sort of button- 

 hole whose upper end remains almost fixed 

 while the lower end, in swinging, produces 

 foam and immerses eggs in it. It is that 

 upper end which is undoubtedly responsible 

 for the work of the middle zone. I always 

 see it in the extension of that zone, in the 

 midst of the fine white foam collected by 

 the caudal filaments. These, one on the 

 right, the other on the left, mark the 

 boundaries of the band. They feel its edges; 

 they seem to be testing the work. I can 

 easily imagine them two long and exquisitely 

 delicate fingers controlling the difficult busi- 

 ness of construction. 



But how are the two rows of scales ob- 

 tained and the fissures, the exit-doors, which 

 they shelter? I do not know. I cannot 

 even guess. I leave the rest of the problem 

 to others. 



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