The Cionus 
moment of the nymphosis arrives, a retreat 
in which the grub can undergo its transfor- 
mation in peace becomes indispensible. The 
vagabond has nothing of the sort. It is 
homeless, it sleeps in the open air; yet it is 
able, when the time comes, to make itself a 
tent, a capsule, the materials for which are 
supplied by its intestine. No other insect of 
its order can build a home like this. Let us 
hope that the hateful Chalcid, the murderer 
of nymphs, will not visit it in its pretty little 
tent. 
The grub that lives on the scollop-leaved 
mullein has shown an utter revolution in the 
habits of the Weevil clan. The better to 
judge of this, let us consult a cognate species, 
placed not far from the Cionus by the classi- 
fiers; let us compare the two kinds of life, 
on the one hand the exception and on the 
other the rule. The comparison will be all 
the more useful inasmuch as the new wit- 
ness also exploits a mullein. It is known as 
Gymnetron thapsicola, GERM. 
Dressed in russet homespun, with a plump 
round body and about the size of the Cionus: 
there you have the creature. Note the 
qualifying thapsicola, meaning an inhabitant 
333 
