The Life of the Weevil 
the dwarf, such a bungler in appearance, 
who by dint of patience builds the prettiest 
house. 
At other times ske exploits the common 
oak, the English oak, whose leaves are 
broader and more deeply indented than those 
of the ilex, or holm-oak. On the spring 
shoots she selects the topmost leaves, of 
average size and medium consistency. If 
the position suit her, five, six or more little 
kegs will be dangling from the same twig. 
Whether it settle on the holm-oak or on 
the common oak, the insect begins by incising 
the leaf, at some distance from the base, to 
the right and left of the median vein, while 
respecting the vein itself, which will provide 
a solid attachment. Then the Apoderus’ 
method is repeated: the leaf, rendered more 
tractable by the two incisions, is folded 
lengthwise, with the upper surface inside. 
All these leaf-rollers, cigar-makers and 
coopers alike, know how to overcome the 
resilience of a leaf by means of punctures 
or incisions; all are thoroughly versed in that 
principle of statics according to which the 
surface whose elasticity is the greater will 
be found on the convex aspect of the curve. 
186 
