Thisfacilityforgripping，quittingandregripping，nowhere，nowthereandalwayswithoutawound，thepartofthevictimwhencethenourishmentisdrawntellsusofitselfthatthemouthoftheAnthraxisnotarmedwithmandibularfangscapableofdiggingintotheskinandtearingit。Ifthefleshweregashedbyanysuchpincers，oneortwoattemptswouldbenecessarybeforetheycouldbereleasedorreapplied;besides，eachpointbittenwoulddisplayalesion。Well，thereisnothingofthekind:aconscientiousexaminationthroughthemagnifyingglassshowsconclusivelythattheskinisintact;thegrubgluesitsmouthtoitspreyorwithdrawsitwithaneasethatcanonlybeexplainedbyaprocessofsimplecontact。Thisbeingso，theAnthraxdoesnotchewitsfoodasdotheothercarnivorousgrubs;itdoesnoteat，itinhales。
　　Thismethodoftakingnourishmentimpliesanexceptionalapparatusofthemouth，intowhichitbehoovesustoinquirebeforecontinuing。Mymostpowerfulmagnifyingglassatlastdiscovers，atthecenterofthepimplehead，asmallspotofanamber—russetcolor;andthatisall。Foramoreexhaustiveexaminationwewillemploythemicroscope。Icutoffthestrangepimplewiththescissors，washitinadropofwaterandplaceitontheobjectslide。Themouthnowstandsrevealedasaroundspotwhich，forhueandforthesmallnessofitssize，maybecomparedwiththefrontstigmata。Itisasmallconicalcrater，withsidesofapaleyellowish—redandwithfaint，moreorlessconcentriclines。
　　Atthebottomofthisfunnelistheopeningofthegullet，itselftintedredinfrontandpromptlyspreadingintoaconeattheback。Thereisnottheslightesttraceofmandibularfangs，ofjaws，ofmouthpartsforseizingandgrinding。Everythingisreducedtothebowlshapedopening，withadelicateliningofhornytexture，asisshownbytheamberhueandtheconcentricstreaks。WhenIlookforsometermtodesignatethisdigestiveentrance，ofwhichsofarIknownootherexample，Icanfindonlythatofasuckerorcuppingglass。Itsattackisamerekiss，butwhataperfidiouskiss！
　　Weknowthemachine;nowletusseetheworking。Tofacilitateobservation，IshiftedthenewbornAnthraxgrub，togetherwiththeChalicodomagrub，itswetnurse，fromthenatalcellintoaglasstube。Iwasthusable，byemployingasmanytubesasIwanted，tofollowfromstarttofinish，inallitsmostintimatedetails，thestrangerepastwhichIamgoingtodescribe。
　　Thewormisfixedbyitssuckertoanyconvenientpartofthenurse，plumpandfatasbutter。Itisreadytobreakoffitskisssuddenly，shouldanythingdisquietit，andtoresumeitaseasilywhentranquillityisrestored。NoLambenjoysgreaterlibertywithitsmother’steat。Afterthreeorfourdaysofthiscontactofthenurseandnursling，theformer，atfirstrepleteandendowedwiththeglossyskinthatisasignofhealth，beginstoassumeawitheredaspect。Hersidesfallin，herfreshcolorfades，herskinbecomescoveredwithlittlefoldsandgivesevidenceofanappreciableshrinkinginthisbreastwhich，insteadofmilk，yieldsfatandblood。Aweekishardlypastbeforetheprogressoftheexhaustionbecomesstartlinglyrapid。Thenurseisflabbyandwrinkled，asthoughbornedownbyherownweight，likeaveryslackobject。IfImoveherfromherplace，sheflopsandsprawlslikeahalf—filledwaterbottleoverthenewsupportingplane。ButtheAnthrax’kissgoesonemptyingher:
　　soonsheisbutasortofshriveledlardbag，decreasingfromhourtohour，fromwhichthesuckerdrawsafewlastoilydrains。Atlength，betweenthetwelfthandthefifteenthday，allthatremainsofthelarvaofthemasonbeeisawhitegranule，hardlyaslargeasapin’shead。
　　Thisgranuleisthewaterbottledrainedtothelastdrop，isthenurse’sbreastemptiedofallitscontents。Isoftenthemeagerremnantinwater;then，keepingitstillimmersed，Iblowintoitthroughanextremelyattenuatedglasstube。Theskinfillsout，distendsandresumestheshapeofthelarva，withouttherebeinganoutletanywhereforthecompressedair。Itisintact，therefore;itisfreeofanyperforation，whichwouldbeforthwithrevealedunderthewaterbyanescapeofgas。Andso，undertheAnthrax’cuppingglass，theoilybottlehasbeendrainedbyasimpletranspirationthroughthemembrane;thesubstanceofthenursegrubhasbeentransfusedintothebodyofthenurslingbyaprocessakintothatknowninphysicsasendosmosis。Whatshouldwesaytoamethodofbeingsuckledbythemereapplicationofthemouthtoateatlessbreast？Whatweseeheremaybecomparedwiththat:withoutanyoutlet，themilkoftheChalicodomagrubpassesintothestomachoftheAnthrax’larva。
　　Isitreallyaninstanceofendosmosis？MightitnotratherbeatmosphericpressurethatstimulatestheflowofnourishingfluidsanddistilsthemintotheAnthrax’cup—shapedmouth，working，inordertocreateavacuum。almostlikethesuckersoftheCuttlefish？Allthisispossible，butIshallrefrainfromdeciding，preferringtoassignalargesharetotheunknowninthisextraordinarymethodofnutrition。Itought，Ithink，toprovidephysiologistswithafieldofresearchinwhichnewviewsonthehydrodynamicsoflivefluidsmightwellbegleaned;andthisfieldtrenchesuponothersthatwouldalsoyieldrichharvests。Thebriefspanofmydayscompelsmetosettheproblemwithoutseekingtosolveit。
　　Andthesecondproblemisthis:theChalicodomagrubdestinedtofeedtheAnthraxiswithoutawoundofanykind。ThemotherofthetinylarvaisafeebleFlydeprivedofwhatsoeverweaponcapableofinjuringheroffspring’sprey。Moreover，sheisabsolutelypowerlesstopenetratethemasonbee’sfortress，powerlessasafluffofdownagainstarock。Onthispointthereisnodoubt:thefuturewetnurseoftheAnthraxhasnotbeenparalyzedasaretheliveprovisionscollectedbytheHuntingWasps;shehasreceivednobitenorscratchnorcontusionofanysort;shehasexperiencednothingoutofthecommon:inshort，sheisinhernormalstate。Thebilletednurslingarrives，weshallpresentlyseehow;hearrives，scarcelyvisible，almostdefyingthescrutinyofthelens;and，havingmadehispreparations，heinstallshimself，he，theatom，uponthemonstrousnurse，whomheistodraintotheveryhusk。Andshe，notparalyzedbyapreliminaryvivisection，endowedwithallhernormalvitality，letshimhavehisway，letsherselfbesuckeddry，withtheutmostapathy。Notatremorinheroutragedflesh，notaquiverofresistance。Nocorpsecouldshowgreaterindifferencetothebitewhichitreceives。
　　Ah，butthemaggothaschosenthehourofattackwithtraitorouscunning！Haditappeareduponthesceneearlier，whenthelarvawasconsumingitsstoreofhoney，thingsofasuretywouldhavegonebadlywithit。Theassaultedone，feelingherselfbledtodeathbythatravenouskiss，wouldhaveprotestedwithmuchwrigglingofbodyandgrindingofmandibles。Thepositionwouldhaveceasedtobetenableandtheintruderwouldhaveperished。
　　Butatthishouralldangerhasdisappeared。Enclosedinitssilkentent，thelarvaisseizedwiththelethargythatprecedesthemetamorphosis。Itsconditionisnotdeath，butneitherisitlife。Itisanintermediarycondition;itisalmostthelatentvitalityofgrainoregg。Thereforethereisnosignofirritationonthelarva’spartundertheneedlewithwhichIstiritandstilllessunderthesuckeroftheAnthraxgrub，whichisabletodraintheaffluentbreastinperfectsafety。
　　Thislackofresistance，inducedbythetorporofthetransformation，appearstomenecessary，inviewoftheweaknessofthenurslingasitleavestheegg，wheneverthemotherisherselfincapableofdeprivingthevictimofthepowerofselfdefense。Andsothenonparalyzedlarvaeareattackedduringtheperiodofthenymphosis。Weshallsoonseeotherinstancesofthis。
　　Motionlessthoughitbe，theChalicodomagrubisnonethelessalive。Theprimrosetintandtheglossyskinareunequivocalsignsofhealth:Wereitreallydead，itwould，inlessthantwenty—fourhours，turnadirtybrownand，soonafter，decomposeintoafluidputrescence。Nowhereisthemarvelousthing:duringthefortnight，roughly，thattheAnthrax’meallasts，thebuttercolorofthelarva，anunfailingsymptomofthepresenceoflife，continuesunalteredanddoesnotchangeintobrown，thesignofputrefaction，untilhardlyanythingremains;andeventhenthebrownhueisoftenabsent。Asarule，thelookoflivefleshispreserveduntilthefinalpellet，formedoftheskin，thesoleresidue，makesitsappearance。Thispelletiswhite，withnotaspeckoftaintedmatter，provingthatlifepersistsuntilthebodyisreducedtonothing。
　　Weherewitnessthetransfusionofoneanimalintoanother，thechangeofChalicodomasubstanceintoAnthraxsubstance;and，aslongasthetransfusionisnotcomplete，aslongastheeatenhasnotdisappearedaltogetherandbecometheeater，theruinedorganismfightsagainstdestruction。Whatmanneroflifeisthis，whichmaybecomparedwiththelifeofanightlightwhoseextinctionisnotaccomplisheduntilthelastdropofoilhasburntaway？Howisanycreatureabletofightagainstthefinaltragedyofcorruptionuptothelastmomentinwhichanucleusofmatterremainsastheseatofvitalenergy？Theforcesofthelivingcreatureareheredissipatednotthroughanydisturbanceoftheequilibriumofthoseforces，butforthewantofanypointofapplicationforthem:thelarvadiesbecausemateriallythereisnomoreofit。
　　Canwebeinthepresenceofthediffusivelifeoftheplant，alifewhichpersistsinafragment？Bynomeans:thegrubisamoredelicateorganicstructure。Thereisunitybetweentheseveralparts;andnoneofthemcanbejeopardizedwithoutinvolvingtheruinoftheothers。IfImyselfgivethelarvaawound，ifIbruiseit，thewholebodyverysoonturnsbrownandbeginstorot。Itdiesanddecomposesbythemereprickofaneedle;itkeepsalive，oratleastpreservesthefreshnessofthelivetissues，solongasitisnotentirelyemptiedbytheAnthrax’sucker。Anothingkillsit;anatrociouswastingdoesnot。No，Ifailtounderstandtheproblem;andIbequeathittoothers。
　　AllthatIcanseebywayofaglimpse——andeventhenIputforwardmysuspicionswithextremereserve——allthatIampermittedtosurmiseisreducedtothis:thesubstanceofthesleepinglarvaasyethasnoverydefinitestaticexistence;itisliketherawmaterialscollectedforabuilding;itiswaitingfortheelaborationthatistomakeabeeofit。Tomouldthoseshapelesslumpsofthefutureinsect，theair，thatprimeadjusteroflivingthings，circulatesamongthem，passingthroughanetworkofducts。Toorganizethem，todirecttheplacingofthem，thenervoussystem，theembryooftheanimal，distributesitsramificationsoverthem。Nerveandairduct，therefore，aretheessentials;therestissomuchmaterialinreservefortheprocessofthemetamorphosis。Aslongasthatmaterialisnotemployed，aslongasithasnotacquireditsfinalequilibrium，itcangrowlessandless;andlife，thoughlanguishing，willcontinueallthesameontheexpressconditionthattherespiratoryorgansandthenervousfilamentsberespected。Itisasitweretheflameofthelamp，which，whetherfullorempty，continuestogivelightsolongasthewickissoakedinoil。
　　Nothingbutfluids，theplasticmaterialsheldinreserve，canbedistilledbytheAnthrax’suckerthroughtheunpiercedskinofthegrub;nopartoftherespiratoryandnervoussystemspasses。Asthetwoessentialfunctionsremainunscathed，lifegoesonuntilexhaustioniscompleted。Ontheotherhand，ifImyselfinjurethelarva，Idisturbthenervousorairconductingfilaments;andthebruisedpartspreadsataint，followedbyputrefaction，alloverthebody。
　　Ihaveelsewhere，speakingoftheScolia[adiggerwasp]devouringtheCetoniagrub，enlargeduponthisrefinedartofeatingwhichconsistsinconsumingthepreywhilekillingitonlyatthelastmouthfuls。TheAnthraxhasthesamerequirementsashiscompetitorswhodineofffreshviands。Heneedsmeatofthatday，takenfromasinglejointthathastolastafortnightwithoutgoingbad。Hismethodofconsumingreachesthehighestlevelofart:hedoesnotcutintohisprey，hesipsitlittlebylittlethroughhissucker。Inthisway，anydangerousriskisaverted。
　　Whetherheimbibeatthisspotoratthat，evenifheabandonthesuckingprocessandresumeitlater，bynoaccidentcanheeverattackthatwhichitisincumbentuponhimtorespectlestcorruptionsupervene。Theothershaveafixedpositiononthevictim，aplaceatwhichtheirmandibleshavetobiteandenter。
　　Iftheymoveawayfromit，iftheymisstheappointedpath，theyimperiltheirexistence。TheAnthrax，morehighlyfavored，putshismouthwhereitsuitshim;heleavesoffwhenhepleasesandwhenhepleasesstartsagain。
　　UnlessIlaborunderadelusion，IthinkthatIseethenecessityforthisprivilege。Theeggofthecarnivorousburrowerisfirmlyfixedonthevictimatapointwhichvariesconsiderably，itistrue，accordingtothenatureoftheprey，butwhichisuniformforthesamespeciesofprey;moreover——andthisisanimportantcondition——thepointofadhesionofthateggisalwaysthehead，whereastheeggofabee，oftheOsmia，forinstance，isfixedtothemessofhoneybythehinderend。Whenhatched，thenewbornWaspgrubhasnottochooseforitself，atitsriskandperil，thesuitablepointatwhichtotakethefirstcutinthequarrywithoutfearofkillingittooquickly:allthatitneeddoistobiteatthespotwhereithasjustbeenborn。Themother，withherunfailinginstinct，hasalreadymadethedangerouschoice;shehasstuckhereggonthepropitiousspotand，bytheveryactofdoingso，markedoutthecoursefortheinexperiencedgrubtofollow。Thetactofripeagehereguidestheyounglarva’sbehaviorattable。
　　TheconditionsareverydifferentintheAnthrax’case。Theeggisnotplaceduponthevictuals，itisnotevenlaidinthemasonbee’scell。Thisisthenaturalconsequenceofthemother’sfeebleframeandofherlackofanyinstrument，suchasaprobeorauger，capableofpiercingthemortarwall。Itisforthenewlyhatchedgrubtomakeitsownwayintothedwelling。Itenters，findsitselfinthepresenceofampleprovisions，thelarvaofthemasonbee。Freeofitsactions，itisatlibertytoattackthepreywhereitchooses;orrathertheattackingpointwillbedecidedathaphazardbythefirstcontactofthemouthinquestoffood。Grantthismouthasetofcarvingtools，jawsandmandibles;inshort，supposethegruboftheFlytopossessamannerofeatingsimilartothatoftheothercarnivorouslarvae;
　　andthenurslingisatoncethreatenedwithaspeedydeath。Hewillsplitopenhisnurse’sbelly，hewilldigwithoutanyruletoguidehim，hewillbiteatrandom，essentialsaswellasaccessories;and，fromonedaytothenext，hewillsetupgangreneintheviolatedmass，evenasImyselfdowhenIgiveitawound。Forthelackofanattackingpointprescribedforhimatbirth，hewillperishonthedamagedprovisions。Hisfreedomofactionwillhavekilledhim。
　　Certainly，libertyisanobleattribute，eveninaninsignificantgrub;butitalsohasitsdangerseverywhere。TheAnthraxescapestheperilonlyontheconditionofbeing，sotospeak，muzzled。
　　Hismouthisnotafierceforcepsthattearsasunder;itisasuckerthatexhaustsbutdoesnotwound。Thusrestrainedbythissafetyappliance，whichchangesthebiteintoakiss，thegrubhasfreshvictualsuntilithasfinishedgrowing，althoughitknowsnothingoftherulesofmethodicalconsumptionatafixedpointandinapredetermineddirection。
　　TheconsiderationswhichIhavesetforthseemtomestrictlylogical:theAnthrax，owingtotheveryfactthatheisfreetotakehisnourishmentwherehepleasesonthebodyofthefosteringlarva，must，forhisownprotection，bemadeincapableofopeninghisvictim’sbody。IamsoutterlyconvincedofthisharmoniousrelationbetweentheeaterandtheeatenthatIdonothesitatetosetitupasaprinciple。Iwillthereforesaythis:whenevertheeggofanykindofinsectisnotfastenedtothelarvadestinedforitsfood，theyounggrub，freetoselecttheattackingpointandtochangeitatwill，isasitweremuzzledandconsumesitsprovisionsbyasortofsuction，withoutinflictinganyappreciablewound。Thisrestrictionisessentialtothemaintenanceofthevictualsingoodcondition。Myprincipleisalreadysupportedbyexamplesmanyandvarious，whosedepositionsarealltothesameeffect。Thewitnessesinclude，aftertheAnthrax，theLeucospis[aparasiticinsect]andhisrivals，whoseevidenceweshallhearpresently;theEphialtesmediator[anIchneumonfly]，whofeeds，inthedrybrambles，onthelarvaoftheBlackPsen[adiggerwasp];theMyodites，thatstrange，fly—
　　shapedbeetlewhosegrubconsumesthelarvaofthecockchafer。
　　All——flies，ichneumonfliesandbeetles——scrupulouslysparetheirfostermother;theyarecarefulnottotearherskin，sothatthevesselmaykeepitsliquidgoodtothelast。
　　Thewholesomenessofthevictualsisnottheonlyconditionimposed:Ifindasecond，whichisnolessessential。Thesubstanceofthefosteringlarvamustbesufficientlyfluidtooozethroughtheunbrokenskinundertheactionofthesucker。
　　Well，thenecessaryfluidityisrealizedasthetimeofthemetamorphosisdrawsnear。WhentheywishedMedeatorestorePeliastothevigorofyouth，hisdaughterscuttheoldking’sbodytopiecesandboileditinacauldron，fortherecanbenonewexistencewithoutapriordissolution。Wemustpulldownbeforewecanrebuild;theanalysisofdeathisthefirststeptowardsthesynthesisoflife。Thesubstanceofthegrubthatistobetransformedintoabeebegins，therefore，bydisintegratinganddissolvingintoafluidbroth。Thematerialsofthefutureinsectareobtainedbyageneralrecasting。Evenasthefounderputshisoldbronzesintothemeltingpotinorderafterwardstocasttheminamouldwhencethemetalwillissueinadifferentshape，solifeliquefiesthegrub，ameredigestingmachine，nowthrownaside，andoutofitsrunningmatterproducestheperfectinsect，bee，butterflyorbeetle，thefinalmanifestationofthelivingcreature。
　　LetusopenaChalicodomagrubunderthemicroscope，duringtheperiodoftorpor。Itscontentsconsistsalmostentirelyofaliquidbroth，inwhichswimnumberlessoilyglobulesandafinedustofuricacid，asortofoff—throwoftheoxidizedtissues。A
　　flowingthing，shapelessandnameless，isallthattheanimalis，ifweaddabundantramifiedairducts，somenervousfilamentsand，undertheskin，athinlayerofmuscularfibers。AconditionofthiskindaccountsforafattytranspirationthroughtheskinwhentheAnthrax’suckerisatwork。Atanyothertime，whenthelarvaisintheactiveperiodorelsewhentheinsecthasreachedtheperfectstage，thefirmnessofthetissueswouldresistthetransfusionandthesucklingoftheAnthraxwouldbecomeadifficultmatter，orevenimpossible。Inpointoffact，Ifindthegruboftheflyestablished，inthevastmajorityofcases，onthesleepinglarvaandsometimes，butrarely，onthepupa。NeverdoIseeitonthevigorouslarvaeatingitshoney;andhardlyeverontheinsectbroughttoperfection，aswefinditenclosedinitscellallthroughtheautumnandwinter。Andwecansaythesameoftheothergrubeatersthatdraintheirvictimswithoutwoundingthem:allareengagedintheirdeathdealingworkduringtheperiodoftorpor，whenthetissuesarefluidified。Theyemptytheirpatient，whohasbecomeabagofrunninggreasewithadiffusedlife;butnotone，amongthoseIknow，reachestheAnthrax’perfectionintheartofextraction。
　　NorcananybecomparedwiththeAnthraxasregardsthemeansbroughtintoplayinordertoleavethecell。Theseothers，whentheybecomeperfectinsects，haveimplementsforsappinganddemolishing，stoutmandibles，capableofdiggingtheground，ofpullingdownclaypartitionwallsandevenofreducingthemasonbee’stoughcementtopowder。TheAnthrax，inherfinalform，hasnothinglikethis。Hermouthisashort，softproboscis，goodatmostforsoberlylickingthesugaryexudationsoftheflowers;herslimlegsaresofeeblethattomoveagrainofsandwereanexcessivetaskforthem，enoughtostraineveryjoint;hergreat，stiffwings，whichmustremainfullspread，donotallowhertoslipthroughanarrowpassage;herdelicatesuitofdownyvelvet，fromwhichyoutakethebloombymerelybreathingonit，couldnotwithstandtheroughcontactofthegalleryofamine。UnableherselftoentertheMasonbee’scelltolayheregg，shecannotleaveiteither，whenthetimecomestofreeherselfandappearinbroaddaylightinherweddingdress。Thelarva，onitsside，ispowerlesstopreparethewayforthecomingflight。Thatbutterylittlecylinder，owningnotoolsbutasuckersoflimsythatitbarelyarrivesatsubstanceandsosmallthatitisalmostageometricalpoint，isevenweakerthantheadultinsect，whichatleastfliesandwalks。TheMasonbee’scellrepresentstoitagranitecave。Howtogetout？Theproblemwouldbeinsolubletothosetwoincapables，ifnothingelseplayeditspart。
　　Amonginsects，thenymph，orpupa，thetransitionstagebetweenthelarvalandtheadultform，isgenerallyastrikingpictureofeveryweaknessofabuddingorganism。Asortofmummytightboundinswaddlingclothes，motionlessandimpassive，itawaitstheresurrection。Itstendertissuesflowineverydirection;itslimbs，transparentascrystal，areheldfixedintheirplace，alongtheside，lestamovementshoulddisturbtheexquisitedelicacyoftheworkincourseofaccomplishment。Evenso，tosecurehisrecovery，isabrokenbonedpatientheldcaptiveinthesurgeon’sbandages。Absolutestillnessisnecessaryinbothcases，lesttheybecrippledorevendie。
　　Well，here，byastrangeinversionthatconfusesallourviewsonlife，aCyclopeantaskislaiduponthenymphoftheAnthrax。Itisthenymphthathastotoil，tostrive，toexhaustitselfineffortstoburstthewallandopenthewayout。Totheembryofallsthedesperateduty，whichshowsnomercytothenascentflesh;totheadultinsectthejoyofrestinginthesun。Thistranspositionoffunctionshasasitsresultawellsinker’sequipmentinthenymph，aneccentric，complicatedequipmentwhichnothingsuggestedinthelarvaandwhichnothingrecallsintheperfectinsect。Thesetoftoolsincludesanassortmentofplowshares，gimlets，hooksandspearsandofotherimplementsthatarenotfoundinourtradesnornamedinourdictionaries。Letusdoourbesttodescribethestrangepiercinggear。
　　Inafortnightatmost，theAnthraxhasconsumedtheChalicodomagrub，whereofnaughtremainsbuttheskin，gatheredintoawhitegranule。BythetimethatJulyisnearlyover，itbecomesraretofindanynurslingsleftupontheirnurses。FromthisperioduntilthefollowingMay，nothingfreshhappens。TheAnthraxretainsitslarvalshapewithoutanyappreciablechangeandliesmotionlessinthemasonbee’scocoon，besidethepelletremains。WhenthefinedaysofMayarrive，thegrubshrivelsandcastsitsskinandthenymphappears，fullycladinastout，reddish，hornyhide。
　　Theheadisroundandlarge，separatedfromthethoraxbyastrangulatedfurrow，crownedontopandinfrontwithasortofdiademofsixhard，sharp，blackspikes，arrangedinasemicirclewhoseconcavesidefacesdownward。Thesespikesdecreaseslightlyinlengthfromthesummittotheendsofthearch。Takentogether，theysuggesttheradialcrownswhichweseetheRomanemperorsoftheDecadencewearonthemedals。Thissix—foldplowshareisthechiefexcavatingtool。Lowerdown，onthemedianline，theinstrumentisfinishedoffwithaseparategroupoftwosmallblackspikes，placedclosetogether。
　　Thethoraxissmooth，thewingcaseslarge，foldedunderthebodylikeascarfandcomingalmosttothemiddleoftheabdomen。Thishasninesegments，ofwhichfour，startingwiththesecond，arearmed，ontheback，downthemiddle，withabeltoflittlehornyarches，palebrownincolor，drawnupparalleltooneanother，setintheskinbytheirconvexsurfacesandfinishingatbothendswithahard，blackpoint。Altogether，thebeltthusformsadoublerowoflittlethorns，withahollowinbetween。Icountabouttwenty—fivetwin—toothedarchestoonesegment，whichgivesatotaloftwohundredspikesforthefourringsthusarmed。
　　Theuseofthisrasp，orgrater，isobvious:itgivesthenymphapurchaseonthewallofitsgalleryastheworkproceeds。Thusanchoredonahostofpoints，thesternpioneerisabletohittheobstacleharderwithitsdiademofawls。Moreover，tomakeitmoredifficultfortheinstrumenttorecoil，long，stiffbristles，pointingbackwards，arescatteredhereandthereamongtheclimbingbelts。Therearesomebesidesontheothersegments，bothontheventralandthedorsalsurface。Ontheflanks，theyarethickerandarrangedasitwereinclusters。
　　Thesixthsegmentcarriesasimilarbelt，butamuchlesspowerfulone，consistingofasinglerowofunassumingthorns。Thebeltisweakerstillontheseventhsegment;lastly，ontheeighth，itisreducedtoamereroughbrownshading。Commencingwiththesixth，theringsdecreaseinwidthandtheabdomenendsinacone，theextremityofwhich，formedoftheninthsegment，constitutesaweaponofanewkind。Itisasheafofeightbrownspikes。Thelasttwoexceedtheothersinlengthandstandoutfromthegroupinadoubleterminalplowshare。
　　Thereisaroundairholeinfront，oneithersideofthethorax，andsimilarstigmataontheflanksofeachofthefirstsevenabdominalsegments。Whenatrest，thenymphiscurvedintoabow。
　　Whenabouttoact，itsuddenlyunbendsandstraightensitself。Itmeasures15to20millimeterslongand4to5millimetersacross。
　　SuchisthestrangeperforatingmachinethatistoprepareanoutletforthefeebleAnthraxthroughtheMasonbee’scement。Thestructuraldetails，sodifficulttoexplaininwords，maybesummedupasfollows:infront，ontheforehead，adiademofspikes，theramminganddiggingtool;behind，amanybladedplowsharewhichfitsintoasocketandallowsthepupatoslackensuddenlyinreadinessforanattackonthebarrierwhichhastobedemolished;ontheback，fourclimbingbelts，orgraters，whichkeeptheanimalinpositionbybitingonthewallsofthetunnelwiththeirhundredsofteeth;and，alloverthebody，long，stiffbristles，pointingbackwards，topreventfallsorrecoils。
　　AsimilarstructureexistsintheotherspeciesofAnthraxwithslightvariationsofdetail。Iwillconfinemyselftooneinstance，thatofAnthraxsinuata，whothrivesatthecostofOsmiatricornis。HernymphdiffersfromthatofAnthraxtrifasciata，theAnthraxofthemasonbee，inpossessinglesspowerfularmor。Itsfourclimbingbeltsconsistofonlyfifteentoseventeendoublespikedarches，insteadoftwenty—five;also，theabdominalsegments，fromthesixthonwards，aresuppliedmerelywithstiffbristles，withoutatraceofhornyspikes。IftheevolutionofthevariousAnthraxflieswerebetterknowntous，thenumberofthesearcheswould，Ibelieve，beofgreatservicetoentomologyinthedifferentiationofspecies。Iseeitremainingconstantforanygivenspecies，withmarkedvariationsbetweenonespeciesandanother。Butthisisnotmybusiness:I
　　merelycalltheattentionoftheclassifierstothisfieldofstudyandpasson。
　　AbouttheendofMay，thecoloringofthenymph，hithertoalightred，altersgreatlyandforecaststhecomingtransformation。Thehead，thethoraxandthescarfformedbythewingsbecomeahandsome，shinyblack。Adarkbandshowsonthebackofthefoursegmentswiththeirtworowsofspikes;threespotsappearonthetwonextrings;theanalarmorbecomesdarker。Inthismannerweforeseetheblackliveryofthecominginsect。Thetimehasarrivedforthepupatoworkattheexitgallery。
　　Iwasanxioustoseeitinaction，notundernaturalconditions，whichwouldbeimpracticable，butinaglasstubeinwhichI
　　confineitbetweentwothickstoppersofsorghumpith。Thespacethusmarkedoffisaboutthesamesizeasthenatalcell。Thepartitionsfrontandback，althoughnotsostoutastheChalicodoma’smasonry，areneverthelessfirmenoughnottoyieldexcepttoprolongedefforts;ontheotherhand，thesidewallsaresmoothandthetoothedbeltswillnotbeabletogripthem:amostunfavorableconditionfortheworker。Nomatter:inthespaceofasingleday，thepupapiercesthefrontpartition，threequartersofaninchthick。Iseeitfixingitsdoubleplowshareagainstthebackpartition，archingintoabowandthensuddenlyreleasingitselfandstrikingthepluginfrontofitwithitsbarbedforehead。Undertheimpactofthespikes，thesorghumslowlycrumblestopieces。Itisslowincomingaway;butitcomesawayallthesame，atombyatom。Atlongintervals，themethodchanges。Withitscrownofawlsdrivenintothepith，theanimalfretsandfidgets，swaysonthepivotofitsanalarmor。Theworkoftheaugerfollowsthatofthepickaxe。Thentheblowsrecommence，interspersedwithperiodsofresttorecoverfromthefatigue。Atlast，theholeismade。Thepupaslipsintoit，butdoesnotpassthroughentirely:theheadandthoraxappearoutside;theabdomenremainsheldinthegallery。
　　Theglasscell，withitslackofsupportsattheside，hascertainlyperplexedmysubject，whichdoesnotseemtohavemadeuseofallitsmethods。Theholethroughthesorghumiswideandirregular;itisaclumsybreachandnotagallery。Whenmadethroughthemasonbee’swalls，itiscylindrical，fairlyneatandexactlyoftheanimal’sdiameter。SoIhopethat，undernaturalconditions，thepupadoesnotgivequitesomanyblowswiththepickaxeandpreferstoworkwiththedrill。
　　Narrownessandevennessintheexittunnelarenecessarytoit。
　　Italwaysremainshalfcaughtinitandevenprettysecurelyfixedbythegratersonitsback。Onlytheheadandthoraxemergeintotheouterair。Thisisalastprecautionforthefinaldeliverance。Afixedsupportis，infact，indispensabletotheAnthraxforissuingfromherhornysheath，unfurlinghergreatwingsandextricatingherslenderlegsfromtheirscabbards。Allthisverydelicateworkwouldbeendangeredbyanylackofsteadiness。
　　Thepupa，therefore，remainsfixedbythegratersofitsbackinthenarrowexitgalleryandthussuppliesthestableequilibriumessentialtothenewbirth。Allisready。Itistimenowforthegreatact。Atransversalcleftmakesitsappearanceontheforehead，atthebottomoftheperforatingdiadem;asecond，butlongitudinalslitdividestheskullintwoandextendsdownthethorax。Throughthiscross—shapedopening，theAnthraxsuddenlyappears，allmoistwiththehumorsoflife’slaboratory。Shesteadiesherselfuponhertremblinglegs，driesherwingsandtakestoflight，leavingatthewindowofthecellhernymphalslough，whichkeepsintactforaverylongperiod。Thesand—
　　coloredflyhasfiveorsixweeksbeforeher，whereintoexploretheclaynestsamidthethymeandtotakehersmallshareofthejoysoflife。InJuly，weshallseeheroncemore，busythistimewiththeentranceintothecell，whichisevenstrangerthantheexit。
　　CHAPTERIIIANOTHERPROBER（PERFORATOR）
　　Whatcanhebecalled，thiscreaturewhosestyleandtitleIdarenotinscribeattheheadofthechapter？HisnameisMonodontomeruscupreus，SM。Justtryit，forfun:Mo—no—don—to—
　　me—rus。Whatagorgeousmouthful！WhatanideaitgivesoneofsomebeastoftheApocalypse！Wethink，whenwepronouncetheword，oftheprehistoricmonsters:themastodon，themammoth，theponderousmegatherium。Well，wearemisledbythescientificlabel:wehavetodowithaverypaltryinsect，smallerthanthecommongnat。
　　Therearegoodpeoplelikethat，onlytoohappytoservesciencewithresoundingappellationsthatmightcomefromTimbuktu;theycannotnameyouamidgewithoutstrikingterrorintoyou。Oyewiseandreveredones，yechristenersofanimals，Iamwilling，inmystudy，tomakeuse——butnotundueuse——ofyourharshterminology，withitsconglomerationofsyllables;butthereisadangeroftheirleavingthesanctumandappearingbeforethepublic，whichisalwaysreadytoshowitslackofdeferencefortermsthatdonotrespectitsears。I，wishingtospeaklikeeverybodyelse，sothatImaybeunderstoodbyall，andpersuadedthatsciencehasnoneedofthisBrobdignagianjargon，makeapointofavoidingtechnicalnomenclaturewhenitbecomestoobarbarous，whenitthreatenstolumberthepagethemomentmypenattemptsit。AndsoIabandonMonodontomerus。