The Bear Larinus 
takes place. Soon the mothers dive down 
among the flowers and seed-plumes. 
A fortnight later, each head is feeding 
one to four larve, already far advanced. 
Things go fast with the Larini: all must be 
finished before the thistle-heads wither. 
September is not over by the time that the 
insect has assumed the adult form; but there 
are still laggards at this period, represented 
by nymphs and even by larve. 
Built on the same plane as the Artichoke- 
weevil’s, the dwelling consists of a sheath 
having for its base a basin hollowed in the 
surface of the receptacle. In either case the 
architecture is the same; so is the method 
of work. A quilt of hairs, borrowed from 
the seed-plumes and the mane-like fringe 
of the receptacle, is heaped around the 
grub and cemented with the lacquer of the 
intestine. 
Outside this downy bed of wadding is 
spread a further mattress, a layer of gran- 
ular excrement. The artist has not thought 
fit to employ its digestive refuse to greater 
advantage. It has something better at its 
disposal. Like the other Larini, it is able to 
69 
