The Nut-Weevil 
cation whatever with the outside world. 
A Weevil of humble size and modest attire 
takes possession of them in May and June 
as lodgings for her larve, which gnaw the 
placenta of the fruit, laden with unripe seeds. 
In August the plant is withered, scorched 
by the sun, but still standing and topped with 
its compact spike of capsules. Open some of 
these shells, almost as solid as cherry-stones. 
Inside is the Weevil in the adult state. 
Open them in winter: the Gymnetron has 
not gone. Open them for the last time in 
April: the little Weevil is still at home. 
Meanwhile, fresh mulleins have sprouted 
hard by; they flower; their shells attain the 
right degree of ripeness: the time has come 
to leave, to go and establish one’s family. 
Not till then does the solitary demolish her 
hermitage, her capsule, which has protected 
her so faithfully hitherto. 
And how does she do so? It is quite 
simple. Her rostrum is a short bradawl, 
easily wielded therefore, even in the con- 
fined space of a cell. The shell, moreover, 
is not too strong. It is a very dry vellum 
wrapper rather than a hard wooden wall. 
The recluse drives her short-handled pick 
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