The Life of the Weevil 
ducts conveying the sap; a scanty flow still 
persists and for some time maintains a certain 
flexibility in the leaf, especially in the centre 
of the spiral, which is not exposed to the 
action of the sun. Consequently the new- 
born grub has fresh provisions within reach 
of its mandibles. It waxes big and strong 
and acquires a stomach able to satisfy itself 
with less tender food. 
Meantime, from day to day, the roll turns 
brown and dry. If it remained indefinitely 
hanging on the bough and if, as often 
happens, there were a lack of moisture at 
nights, it would dry up completely and its 
inmates would perish as they did in my glass 
jars. But, sooner or later, the wind shakes 
them off and they drop to the ground. 
Their fall is the salvation of the grub, 
which is still very far from full-grown. At 
the foot of the poplar, under the grass of 
the meadow subject to frequent irrigation, 
the soil is always damp; at the foot of the 
vine-stock, the earth, overshadowed by the 
branches, fairly well retains the moisture of 
the last showers. Lying in the wet and 
sheltered from the direct onslaughts of the 
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