THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. , 131 



There are some, the extremity of which is surmounted by 

 a crown of points; others exactly represent a deUcate 

 miniature saucepan, the young inhabitant of which, in 

 order to be born, has only to lift up the lid. 



The egg of the louse, which disgusts us so much, pre- 

 sents this curious structure, but in addition its opening is 

 embellished by a little projecting rim, and a groove into 

 which the edge of the cover enters in such a manner as to 

 close it hermetically. A still more ingenious mechanism 

 is seen in some of the wood-bugs. The young insect does 

 not even require to lift the lid; there is within a regular 

 spring on Avhich this office devolves; at the moment of 

 birth he has only to emerge, and one may say with justice 

 of him, that he does not even take the trouble to be born. 



The surface of these eggs is often remarkable on accoimt 

 of the exquisite fineness of its entwined ornamenting. 

 Some are covered with large ribs which extend from one 

 end to the other; others dis^ilay only fine lines artisti- 

 cally engraved; others again have the surface covered 

 with a mesh of lace. For them nature has exhausted the 

 riches of her palette; they are dyed with the sweetest or 

 the most glittering tints of blue, green, and red; some 

 absolutely resemble mother-of-pearl, and there are some 

 that one might take for so many charming little iridescent 

 pearls. 



The sexuality itself of insects ofl^ers some curious parti- 

 culars. There are not only males and females among them, 

 but some of their rejDublics have, in addition, individuals 

 absolutely deprived of sex; these are the neuters, Avhich 

 alone work and constitute the element of their prosperity 

 and power. Some are true workmen, others valiant sol- 

 diers. But these individuals, which we recognize by their 

 form or their particular weapons, are in truth only aborted 



