HISTORY OF INSECTS. 53 



perform the same task again and again, never 

 tiring while there is an egg to lay. 



163. The bud continues to grow like the other 

 buds : the little perforation becomes invisible. 

 By and by the egg bursts, and out comes a little 

 white maggot, without legs, which, directly it is 

 hatched, begins to devour the young and tender 

 stamens ; next to these the style is attacked, and 

 eaten down to the fruit, the upper part of which 

 is quickly consumed. The maggot is then full fed ; 

 it casts its skin, becomes a chrysalis, and lays 

 perfectly still. 



164. Up to this time the blossom has continued 

 perfectly healthy, no trace of the enemy being 

 discovered without ; but when the neighbouring 

 blossoms are expanding their petals to the genial 

 breath of spring, those of the mutilated bud remain 

 closed, and retain the arched balloon-like appear- 

 ance of a bud about to burst. For a few days 

 they preserve their lovely pink colour, and then, 

 by degrees, fade to a dingy brown. 



165. On opening these brown, or rather rust- 

 coloured blossoms, about the 10th to the 15th of 

 June, the chrysalis will be found to have changed 

 to a perfect beetle, similar to its parent, which, 

 had it been left to itself, would, in a few days, 

 have eaten its way through the weather-beaten case 

 of dried petals, and left its prison-house, flying 

 about to take its pleasure till the chilly winds of 

 autumn should drive it to its winter habitation. 



