CHAPTER VII 
THE POPLAR-WEEVIL 
ENERALLY speaking, the mother 
Weevil’s attainments are limited to 
slipping her eggs into places where the grubs 
will find food to suit them and occasionally, 
with wonderfully assured botanical tact, to 
varying the diet. She does little or no indus- 
trial work. The niceties of the baby-linen 
or the feeding-bottle do not concern her. 
* To this uncouth maternity I know but one 
exception, appertaining to certain Weevils 
who, in order to endow their young with pre- 
served food-stuffs, have the knack of rolling 
a leaf, which serves as board and lodging in 
one. 
Among these manufacturers of vegetable 
sausages the most skilful is the Poplar- 
weevil (Rhynchites populi, Lin:), who is 
of modest size but splendidly attired. Her 
back glitters with gold and copper, her 
abdomen with indigo-blue. Would you see 
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