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THE NUT WEEVIL *. 



This insect is produced from the white grub that 

 we often find living in the interior of the hazel nut. 

 The history of its changes and growth is singular and 

 interesting ; and exhibits a striking instance of the 

 care that has been taken to promote the comfort 

 and convenience of even these diminitive tribes. 



The caterpillar or grub proceeds from a very 

 small brown egg that the parent deposits in the out- 

 side of the nut, at a time when it is very soft and 

 tender. When the heat of the season has perfected 

 the little grub, it eats its way out of the egg, and 

 through the shell into the nut, without in the least 

 injuring the external appearance of the nut. His 

 chief food now is the coat of the nut, or that part 

 which afterwards hardens into the shell ; and he 

 continues to feed on this, and the interior pulp, 

 till such time as the one becomes too hard, and 

 the other too dry for his sustenance. He then be- 

 gins on the kernel, which is now grown so large 

 as to afford him support : and it is to be remarked 

 that this seems a most providencial instinct, for had 

 he commenced his attacks on the kernel when it 

 was small, he would have destroyed that on which 

 all his future welfare depended, and that which 

 is the principal food allotted to him by nature 

 while in a larva state. While feeding, he con- 

 stantly attends to the hole by which he entered. 



* Synonyms. Curculio micum. Linn.— — -Phynwhtlnus nucum. 



Fabricius.——Nut Beetle. Harris. 



