Marvels of the Universe 855 
As mentioned in the article on Ant-eaters, where additional particulars in regard to Echidnas 
are recorded, the latter appear to feed exclusively on ants—either black, red, or white. 
Ihave headed this article ‘‘ Porcupines and their Imitators,” but it might perhaps have been better 
had I written Echidnas in place of Porcupines, as it is perfectly evident that the former represent a 
much more ancient group than the latter. The ancestral Echidnas were, however, almost certainly 
provided with teeth, while it is quite likely that they were devoid of spines. Consequently, it is 
possible that Porcupines developed spines earlier than Echidnas, although this is one of the many 
problems in nature which we cannot solve—at any rate, in this world. 
WSS IPIGA, Slee) JIGS 
BY HAROLD BASTIN. 
THERE is a small beetle—a kind of weevil to be precise—which does much mischief to peas. Its 
life-story presents some points of unique interest. The adult female insects are alert at the season 
when peas are blossoming. They lay their amber-coloured eggs on the pods when the latter are 
very young—in fact, as soon as the flower has withered. The minute grub which hatches from the 
egg has six short legs, while its thorax is armed with a series of cutting spurs. These spurs assist 
it in making its way through the substance of the pod to one of the swelling peas. Sometimes it 
burrows straight through the pod, from the egg to a pea. But if it hatches before the peas are 
sufficiently developed for its purpose, it lives for a time as a miner in the pod. Sooner or later, 
however, it penetrates a pea. The wounds made in the pod and the pea are so slight that they soon 
heal over, while the scars can only be detected by diligent search. Up to this time the tiny larva 
Photo by] .S. Berridge, 2.8 
THE EUROPEAN PORCUPINE. 
The finest quills and the most formidable array of these sharp weapons are to be found on this species. A remarkable point 
about the Porcupine is that as it walks the quills in the tail make a loud rattling, which possibly serves as a warning signal to 
other animals. 
