The Spotted Larinus 
cell; and from both leaf and stalk it has 
taken the ligneous particles which it had to 
imbed in the cement. In short, except that 
it is bare instead of surrounded with a 
palisade, the fabric adhering to the stalk does 
not differ from that hidden beneath the with- 
ered florets of the thistle-head. 
People set great store by environment as 
a modifying agent. Well, here we see this 
famous environment at work. An insect is 
placed as much out of its element as it can 
be, but without leaving the food-plant, which 
would inevitably be the end of it. Instead 
of a ball of close-packed flowers it has for 
its workshop the open axilla of a leaf; in- 
stead of hairs—a soft fleece easily shorn 
off—it has for its materials the fierce teeth 
of the thistle. And these profound changes 
leave the builder’s talents unperturbed; the 
house is built according to the usual plans. 
I agree that I have not allowed for the 
influence of the centuries. But what would 
this influence bring about? It is not very 
clear. The Weevil born in an unusual place 
retains no trace of the accident that has 
happened. I extract the adult from his 
exceptional cell. He does not differ, even in 
51 
