The Spotted Larinus 
before she is exploiting the heads, green at 
this time and the size of peas, or at most of 
cherries, with a view to establishing her 
family. For two or three weeks the work of 
colonization continues on globes which grow 
bluer and larger day by day. 
Couples are formed, very peaceably, in 
the glad morning sunlight. The nuptial 
preliminaries, resembling the embraces of 
jointed levers, display a rustic awkwardness. 
With his fore-legs the male Weevil masters 
his spouse; with his hinder tarsi, gently and 
at intervals, he strokes her sides. Alterna- 
ting with these soft caresses are sudden jolts 
and impetuous jerks. Meanwhile, the object 
of these attentions, in order to lose no time, 
works at the thistle-head with her beak and 
prepares the lodging for her egg. Even in 
the midst of her wedding the care of the 
family leaves this laborious insect no repose. 
What precisely is the use of the Weevil’s 
rostrum, this paradoxical nose, such as no 
carnival murmur would venture to wear? 
We shall find out at leisure, taking our own 
time. 
My prisoners, enclosed in a wire-gauze 
cover, are working in the sunlight on my 
27 
