Iremoveanumberofcaddiswormsfromtheirsheathsandsubmitthese，astheyare，tothetestofwater。Whetherformedwhollyoffibrousremnantsorofmixedmaterials，notoneofthemfloats。
　　Thescabbardsmadeofshellsgotothebottomwiththeswiftnessofabitofgravel;theotherssinkgently。Iexperimentwiththeseparatematerialsonebyone。Noshellremainsonthesurface，notevenamongthePlanorbes，whichamany—whorledspiralought，onewouldthink，tokeepafloat。Thefibrousremnantsmustbedividedintotwocategories。Thefirst，darkenedbytimeandsoakedwithmoisture，sinktothebottom。Thesearethemostplentiful。Thesecond，considerablyfewerinnumber，ofmorerecentdateandlesssaturatedwithwater，floatverywell。Thegeneralresultisimmersion，asinthecaseoftheintactscabbards。Imayaddthattheanimal，whenremovedfromitstube，isalsounabletofloat。
　　Thenhowdoesthecaddiswormmanagetoremainonthesurfacewithoutthesupportofthegrasses，consideringthatitselfanditssheatharebothheavierthanwater？Itssecretissoonrevealed。
　　Iplaceafewhighanddryonasheetofblottingpaper，whichwillabsorbtheexcessofliquidunfavorabletosuccessfulobservation。
　　Outsideitsnaturalenvironment，theanimalmovesaboutviolentlyandrestlessly。Withitsbodyhalfoutofthescabbard，thistimecomposedentirelyoffibrousmatter，itclutcheswithitsfeetatthesupportingplane。Then，contractingitself，itdrawsthescabbardtowardsit，half—raisingitandsometimesevenmakingitassumeaverticalposition。EvensodotheBulimimovealong，liftingtheirshellastheycompleteeachcrawlingstep。
　　Afteracoupleofminutesinthefreeair，Ireplacethecaddisworminthewater。Thistime，itfloats，butlikeacylinderwithtoomuchweightbelow。Thesheathremainsvertical，withitshinderorificelevelwiththewater。Soon，anairbubbleescapesfromtheorifice。Deprivedofthisbuoy，theskiffatoncegoesdown。
　　Theresultisthesamewiththecaddiswormsinshellcasings。Atfirst，theyfloat，straightuponend，andthendipunderandsink，fasterthantheothers，aftersendingoutanairbubbleortwothroughthebackwindow。
　　Thatisenough:thesecretisout。Whencasedinwoodorinshells，thecaddisworms，whicharealwaysheavierthanwater，areabletokeeponthesurfacebymeansofatemporaryairballoonwhichdecreasesthedensityofthewholestructure。
　　Thisapparatusworksinthesimplestmanner。Considertherearofthesheath。Itistruncated，wideopenandsuppliedwithamembranouspartition，theworkofthespinneret。Aroundholeoccupiesthecenterofthisscreen。Beyonditliestheinteriorofthescabbard，whichissmoothlylinedandwaddedwithsatin，howeverroughtheexteriormaybe。Armedatthesternwithtwohookswhichbiteintothesilkylining，theanimalisabletomovebackwardsandforwardsatwillinsidethecylinder，tofixitsgrapnelsatwhateverpointitpleasesandthustokeepaholdonthecylinderwhilethesixlegsandtheforepartareoutside。
　　Whenatrest，thebodyremainsindoorsentirelyandthegruboccupiesthewholeofthetube。Butletitcontracteversolittletowardsthefront，or，betterstill，letitstickoutapartofitsbody:avacuumisformedbehindthissortofpiston，whichmaybecomparedwiththatofapump。Thankstotherearwindow，avalvewithoutaplug，thisvacuumatoncefills，thusrenewingtheaeratedwateraroundthegills，asoftfleeceofhairsdistributedoverthebackandbelly。
　　Thepistonstrokeaffectsonlytheworkofbreathing;itdoesnotalterthedensity，makeshardlyanychangeinthatwhichisheavierthanwater。Tolightentheweight，thecaddiswormmustfirstrisetothesurface。Withthisobject，itscalesthegrassesofonesupportaftertheother;itclambersup，stickingtoitspurposeinspiteofthedrawbackofitsfaggotdraggingthroughthetangle。
　　Whenithasreachedthegoal，itliftstherearendalittleabovethewaterandgivesastrokeofthepiston。Thevacuumthusobtainedfillswithair。Thatisenough:skiffandboatmanareinapositiontofloat。Thenowuselesssupportofthegrassesisabandoned。Thetimehascomeforevolutionsonthesurface，inthegladsunlight。
　　Thecaddiswormpossessesnogreattalentasanavigator。Toturnround，totackabout，toshiftitsplaceslightlybyabackwardmovementisallthatitcando;andeventhatitdoesveryclumsily。Thefrontpartofthebody，stickingoutofthecase，actsasarudder。Threeorfourtimesover，itrisesabruptly，bends，comesdownagainandstrikesthewater。Thesepaddlestrokes，repeatedatintervals，carrytheunskilledoarsmantofreshlatitudes。Itbecomesavoyageontherightseaswhenthecrossingmeasuresahand’sbreadth。
　　However，tackingonthesurfaceofthewateraffordsthecaddiswormnopleasure。Itpreferstotwitterinonespot，toremainstationaryinflotillas。Whenthetimecomestoreturntothequietofthemudbedatthebottom，theanimal，havinghadenoughofthesun，drawsitselfwhollyintoitssheathagainand，withapistonstroke，expelstheairfromthebackroom。Thenormaldensityisrestoredanditsinksslowlytothebottom。
　　Wesee，therefore，thatthecaddiswormhasnottotroubleabouthydrostaticswhenbuildingitsscabbard。Inspiteoftheincongruityofitswork，inwhichthebulkyandlessdenseportionsseemtobalancethemoresolid，concentratedpart，itisnotcalledupontocontriveanequipoisebetweenthelightandtheheavy。Ithasotherartificeswherebytorisetothesurface，tofloatandtodivedownagain。Theascentismadebytheladderofthewaterweeds。Theaveragedensityofthesheathisofnoimportance，solongastheburdentobedraggedisnotbeyondtheanimal’sstrength。Besides，theweightoftheloadisgreatlyreducedwhenmovedinthewater。
　　Theadmissionofabubbleofairintothebackchamber，whichtheanimalceasestooccupy，allowit，withoutfurtherto—do，toremainforanindefiniteperiodonthesurface。Todivedownagain，thecaddiswormhasonlytoretreatentirelyintoitssheath。Theairisdrivenout;andthecanoe，resumingitsmeandensity，agreaterspecificdensitythanthatofwater，goesunderatonceanddescendsofitsownaccord。
　　Thereis，therefore，nochoiceofmaterialsonthebuilder’spart，nonicecalculationofequilibrium，saveforonecondition，thatnostonymatterbeadmitted。Thatapart，everythingserves，largeandsmall，joistandshell，seedandbillet。Builtupathaphazard，allthesethingsmakeanimpregnablewall。Onepointaloneisessential:theweightofthewholemustslightlyexceedthatofthewaterdisplaced;ifnot，therecouldbenosteadinessatthebottomofthepond，withoutaperpetualanchoragestrugglingagainstthepullofthewater。Inthesamemanner，quicksubmersionwouldbeimpossibleattimeswhenthesurfacebecamedangerousandthefrightenedcreaturewantedtoleaveit。
　　Nordoesthisimportantheavier—than—waterquestioncallforluciddiscernment，seeingthatalmostthewholeofthesheathisconstructedatthebottomofthepond，whitherallthematerialspickedupatrandom，havingdescendedoncebefore，arelikelytodescendagain。Inthesheaths，thepartscapableoffloatingareveryrare。Withouttakingtheirspecificlevityintoaccount，simplysoasnottoremainidle，thecaddiswormfixedthemtoitsbundlewhensportingonthesurfaceofthewater。
　　Wehaveoursubmarines，inwhichhydraulicingenuitydisplaysitshighestresources。Thecaddiswormshavetheirs，whichemerge，floatonthesurface，dipdownandevenstopatmid—depthbyreleasinggraduallytheirsurplusair。Andthisapparatus，soperfectlybalanced，soskilful，requiresnoknowledgeonthepartofitsconstructor。Itcomesintobeingofitself，inaccordancewiththeplansoftheuniversalharmonyofthings。
　　CHAPTERIXTHEGREENBOTTLES
　　Ihavewishedforafewthingsinmylife，noneofthemcapableofinterferingwiththecommonweal。Ihavelongedtopossessapond，screenedfromtheindiscretionofthepassersby，closetomyhouse，withclumpsofrushesandpatchesofduckweed。Here，inmyleisurehours，intheshadeofawillow，Ishouldhavemeditateduponaquaticlife，aprimitivelife，easierthanourown，simplerinitsaffectionsanditsbrutalities。Ishouldhavewatchedtheunalloyedhappinessofthemollusk，thefrolicsoftheWhirligig，thefigure—skatingoftheHydrometra[awaterbugknownasthePondskater]，thedivesoftheDytiscusbeetle，theveeringandtackingoftheNotonecta[thewaterboatman]，who，lyingonherback，rowswithtwolongoars，whilehershortforelegs，foldedagainstherchest，waittograbthecomingprey。IshouldhavestudiedtheeggsofthePlanorbis，aglairynebulawhereinfocusesoflifearecondensedevenassunsarecondensedinthenebulaeoftheheavens。
　　Ishouldhaveadmiredthenascentcreaturethatturns，slowlyturnsintheorbofitsegganddescribesavolute，thedraft，perhaps，ofthefutureshell。Noplanetcirclesrounditscenterofattractionwithgreatergeometricalaccuracy。
　　Ishouldhavebroughtbackafewideasfrommyfrequentvisitstothepond。Fatedecidedotherwise:Iwasnottohavemysheetofwater。Ihavetriedtheartificialpond，betweenfourpanesofglass。Apoorshift！Ourlaboratoryaquariumsarenotevenequaltotheprintleftinthemudbyamule’shoof，whenonceashowerhasfilledthehumblebasinandlifehasstockeditwithitsmarvels。
　　Inspring，withthehawthorninflowerandthecricketsattheirconcerts，asecondwishoftencametome。Alongtheroad，Ilightuponadeadmole，asnakekilledwithastone，victimsbothofhumanfolly。Themolewasdrainingthesoilandpurgingitofitsvermin。Findinghimunderhisspade，thelaborerbrokehisbackforhimandflunghimoverthehedge。Thesnake，rousedfromherslumberbythesoftwarmthofApril，wascomingintothesuntoshedherskinandtakeonanewone。Mancatchessightofher:
　　’Ah，wouldyou？’sayshe。’Seemedosomethingforwhichtheworldwillthankme！’
　　Andtheharmlessbeast，ourauxiliaryintheterriblebattlewhichhusbandrywagesagainsttheinsect，hasitsheadsmashedinanddies。
　　Thetwocorpses，alreadydecomposing，havebeguntosmell。Whoeverapproacheswitheyesthatdonotseeturnsawayhisheadandpasseson。Theobserverstopsandliftstheremainswithhisfoot;helooks。Aworldisswarmingunderneath;lifeiseagerlyconsumingthedead。Letusreplacemattersastheywereandleavedeath’sartisanstotheirtask。Theyareengagedinamostdeservingwork。
　　Toknowthehabitsofthosecreatureschargedwiththedisappearanceofcorpses，toseethembusyattheirworkofdisintegration，tofollowindetailtheprocessoftransmutationthatmakestheruinsofwhathaslivedreturnapaceintolife’streasurehouse:thesearethingsthatlonghauntedmymind。I
　　regretfullyleftthemolelyinginthedustoftheroad。Ihadtogo，afteraglanceatthecorpseanditsharvesters。Itwasnottheplaceforphilosophizingoverastench。Whatwouldpeoplesaywhopassedandsawme！
　　Andwhatwillthereaderhimselfsay，ifIinvitehimtothatsight？Surely，tobusyone’sselfwiththosesqualidsextonsmeanssoilingone’seyesandmind？Notso，ifyouplease！Withinthedomainofourrestlesscuriosity，twoquestionsstandoutaboveallothers:thequestionofthebeginningandthequestionoftheend。
　　Howdoesmatteruniteinordertoassumelife？Howdoesitseparatewhenreturningtoinertia？Thepond，withitsPlanorbiseggsturningroundandround，wouldhavegivenusafewdataforthefirstproblem;theMole，goingbadunderconditionsnottoorepulsive，willtellussomethingaboutthesecond:hewillshowustheworkingofthecruciblewhereinallthingsaremeltedtobeginanew。Atrucetonicedelicacy！Odiprofanumvulgusetarceo;
　　hence，yeprofane:youwouldnotunderstandthemightylessonoftheragtank。
　　Iamnowinapositiontorealizemysecondwish。Ihavespace，airandquietinthesolitudeoftheharmas。Nonewillcomeheretotroubleme，tosmileortobeshockedatmyinvestigations。Sofar，sogood;butobservetheironyofthings:nowthatIamridofpassersby，Ihavetofearmycats，thoseassiduousprowlers，who，findingmypreparations，willnotfailtospoilandscatterthem。
　　Inanticipationoftheirmisdeeds，Iestablishworkshopsinmidair，whithernonebutgenuinecorruptionagentscancome，flyingontheirwings。Atdifferentpointsintheenclosure，Iplantreeds，threebythree，which，tiedattheirfreeends，formastabletripod。Fromeachofthesesupports，Ihang，ataman’sheight，anearthenwarepanfilledwithfinesandandpiercedatthebottomwithaholetoallowthewatertoescape，ifitshouldrain。I
　　garnishmyapparatuswithdeadbodies。Thesnake，thelizard，thetoadreceivethepreference，becauseoftheirbareskins，whichenablemebettertofollowthefirstattackandtheworkoftheinvaders。Iringthechangeswithfurredandfeatheredbeasts。A
　　fewchildrenoftheneighborhood，alluredbypennies，aremyregularpurveyors。Throughoutthegoodseason，theycomerunningtriumphantlytomydoor，withasnakeattheendofastick，oralizardinacabbageleaf。Theybringmetheratcaughtinatrap，thechickendeadofthepip，themoleslainbythegardener，thekittenkilledbyaccident，therabbitpoisonedbysomeweed。Thebusinessproceedstothemutualsatisfactionofsellersandbuyer。
　　Nosuchtradehadeverbeenknownbeforeinthevillagenoreverwillbeagain。
　　Aprilends;andthepansrapidlyfill。Anant，eversosmall，isthefirstarrival。IthoughtIshouldkeepthisintruderoffbyhangingmyapparatushighabovetheground:shelaughsatmyprecautions。Afewhoursafterthedepositofthemorsel，freshstillandpossessingnoappreciablesmell，upcomestheeagerpicker—upoftrifles，scalesthestemsofthetripodinprocessionsandstartstheworkofdissection。Ifthejointsuitsher，sheevengoestoliveinthesandofthepananddigsherselftemporaryplatformsinordertoworktherichfindmoreatherease。
　　Allthroughtheseason，fromstarttofinish，shewillalwaysbethepromptest，alwaysthefirsttodiscoverthedeadanimal，alwaysthelasttobeataretreatwhennothingmoreremainsthanaheapoflittlebonesbleachedbythesun。Howdoesthevagabond，passingatadistance，knowthat，upthere，invisible，highonthegibbet，thereissomethingworthgoingfor？Theothers，therealknackers，waitforthemeattogobad;theyareinformedbythestrengthoftheeffluvia。Theant，giftedwithgreaterpowersofscent，hurriesupbeforethereisanystenchatall。But，whenthemeat，nowtwodaysoldandripenedbythesun，exhalesitsflavor，soonthemasterghoulsappearuponthescene:Dermestes[baconbeetles，smallflesh—eatingbeetles]andSaprini[exceedinglysmallflesh—
　　eatingbeetles]，Silphae[carrionbeetles]andNecrophori[buryingbeetles]，fliesandStaphylini[rovebeetles]，whoattackthecorpse，consumeitandreduceitalmosttonothing。Withtheantalone，whoeachtimecarriesoffamereatom，thesanitaryoperationwouldtaketoolong;withthem，itisaquickbusiness，especiallyascertainofthemunderstandtheprocessofchemicalsolvents。
　　Theselast，whoarehighclassscavengers，areentitledtofirstmention。Theyareflies，ofmanyvariousspecies。Iftimepermitted，eachofthosestrenuousoneswoulddeserveaspecialexamination;butthatwouldwearythepatienceofboththereaderandtheobserver。Thehabitsofonewillgiveusasummarynotionofthehabitsoftherest。Wewillthereforeconfineourselvestothetwoprincipalsubjects，namely，theLuciliae，orgreenbottles，andtheSarcophagae，orgreyfleshflies。
　　TheLuciliae——fliesthatglitter——aremagnificentfliesknowntoallofus。Theirmetallicluster，generallyagoldengreen，rivalsthatofourfinestbeetles，theRosechafers，Buprestesandleafbeetles。Itgivesoneashockofsurprisetoseesorichagarbadornthoseworkersinputrefaction。Threespeciesfrequentmypans:LuciliaCaesar，LIN。，L。cadaverina，LIN。，andL。cuprea，ROB。Thefirsttwo，bothofwhomaregold—green，areplentiful;
　　thethird，whosportsacopperyluster，israre。Allthreehaveredeyes，setinasilverborder。
　　LuciliaCaesarislargerthanL。cadaverinaandalsomoreforwardinherbusiness。Icatchherinlaboronthe23rdofApril。Shehassettledinthespinalcanalofaneckofmuttonandislayinghereggsonthemarrow。Formorethananhour，motionlessinthegloomycavity，shegoesonpackinghereggs。Icanjustseeherredeyesandhersilveryface。Atlast，shecomesout。Igatherthefruitofherlabor，aneasymatter，foritallliesonthemarrow，whichIextractwithouttouchingtheeggs。
　　Acensuswouldseemimportant。Totakeitatonceisimpracticable:thegermsformacompactmass，whichwouldbedifficulttocount。Thebestthingistorearthefamilyinajarandtoreckonbythepupaeburiedinthesand。Ifindahundredandfifty—seven。Thisisevidentlybutaminimum;forLuciliaCaesarandtheothers，astheobservationsthatfollowwilltellme，layinpacketsatrepeatedintervals。Itisamagnificentfamily，promisingafabulouslegiontocome。
　　Thegreenbottles，Iwassaying，breakuptheirlayingintosections。Thefollowingsceneaffordsaproofofthis。AMole，shrunkbyafewdays’evaporation，liesspreaduponthesandofthepan。Atonepoint，theedgeofthebellyisraisedandformsadeeparch。RemarkthattheGreenbottles，liketherestoftheflesheatingflies，donottrusttheireggstouncoveredsurfaces，wheretheheatofthesun’sraysmightendangertheexistenceofthedelicategerms。Theywantdarkhidingplaces。Thefavoritespotisthelowersideofthedeadanimal，whenthisisaccessible。
　　Inthepresentcase，theonlyplaceofaccessisthefoldformedbytheedgeofthebelly。Itishereandherealonethatthisday’smothersarelaying。Thereareeightofthem。Afterexploringthepieceandrecognizingitsgoodquality，theydisappearunderthearch，firstthisone，thenthat，orelseseveralatatime。TheyremainundertheMoleforaconsiderablewhile。Thoseoutsidewait，butgorepeatedlytothethresholdofthecaverntotakealookatwhatishappeningwithinandseewhethertheearlieroneshavefinished。Thesecomeoutatlast，perchontheanimalandwaitintheirturn。Othersatoncetaketheirplaceintherecessesofthecave。Theyremainthereforsometimeandthen，havingdonetheirbusiness，makeroomformoremothersandcomeforthintothesunlight。Thisgoinginandoutcontinuesthroughoutthemorning。
　　Wethuslearnthatthelayingiseffectedbyperiodicalemissions，brokenwithintervalsofrest。Aslongasshedoesnotfeelripeeggscomingtoheroviduct，thegreenbottleremainsinthesun，hoveringtoandfroandsippingmodestmouthfulsfromthecarcass。
　　But，assoonasafreshstreamdescendsfromherovaries，quickaslightningshemakesforapropitioussitewhereontodepositherburden。Itappearstobetheworkofseveraldaysthustodividethetotallayingandtodistributeitatdifferentpoints。
　　Icarefullyraisetheanimalunderwhichthesethingsarehappening。Theegglayingmothersdonotdisturbthemselves;theyarefartoobusy。Theirovipositorextendedtelescopefashion，theyheapegguponegg。Withthepointoftheirhesitating，gropinginstrument，theytrytolodgeeachgerm，asitcomes，fartherintothemass。Aroundtheserious，red—eyedmatrons，theAntscircle，intentonpillage。Manyofthemmakeoffwithagreenbottleeggbetweentheirteeth。Iseesomewho，greatlydaring，effecttheirtheftundertheovipositoritself。Thelayersdonotputthemselvesout，lettheantshavetheirway，remainimpassive。Theyknowtheirwombtoberichenoughtomakegoodanysuchlarceny。
　　Indeed，whatescapesthedepredationsoftheantspromisesaplenteousbrood。Letuscomebackafewdayslaterandliftthemoleagain。Underneath，inapoolofsanies，isasurgingmassofswarmingsternsandpointedheads，whichemerge，wriggleanddiveinagain。Itsuggestsaseethingbillow。Itturnsone’sstomach。
　　Itishorrible，mosthorrible。Letussteelourselvesagainstthesight:itwillbeworseelsewhere。
　　Hereisafatsnake。Rolledintoacompactwhorl，shefillsthewholepan。Thegreenbottlesareplentiful。Newonesarriveateverymomentand，withoutquarrelorstrife，taketheirplaceamongtheothers，busilylaying。Thespiralfurrowleftbythereptile’scurvesisthefavoritespot。Herealone，inthenarrowspacebetweenthefolds，aresheltersagainsttheheatofthesun。TheglisteningFliestaketheirplaces，sidebyside，inrows;theystrivetopushtheirabdomenandtheirovipositorasfarforwardaspossible，attheriskofrumplingtheirwingsandcockingthemtowardstheirheads。Thecareofthepersonisneglectedamidthisseriousbusiness。Placidly，withtheirredeyesturnedoutwards，theyformacontinuouscordon。Hereandthere，atintervals，therankisbroken;layersleavetheirposts，comeandwalkaboutuponthesnake，whattimetheirovariesripenforanotheremission，andthenhurryback，slipintotherankandresumetheflowofgerms。
　　Despitetheseinterruptions，theworkofbreedinggoesfast。Inthecourseofonemorning，thedepthsofthespiralfurrowarehungwithacontinuouswhitebark，theheapedupeggs。Theycomeoffingreatslabs，freeofanystain;theycanbeshoveledup，asitwere，withapaperscoop。Itisapropitiousmomentifwewishtofollowtheevolutionatclosequarters。Ithereforegatheraprofusionofthiswhitemannaandlodgeitinglasstubes，testtubesandjars，withthenecessaryprovisions。
　　Theeggs，aboutamillimeterlong，aresmoothcylinders，roundedatbothends。Theyhatchwithintwenty—fourhours。Thefirstquestionthatpresentsitselfisthis:howdothegreenbottlegrubsfeed？Iknowquitewellwhattogivethem，butIdonotintheleastseehowtheymanagetoconsumeit。Dotheyeat，inthestrictsenseoftheword？Ihavereasonstodoubtit。
　　Letusconsiderthegrubgrowntoasufficientsize。Itistheusualflylarva，thecommonmaggot，shapedlikeanelongatedcone，pointedinfront，truncatedbehind，wheretwolittleredspotsshow，levelwiththeskin:thesearethebreathingholes。Thefront，whichiscalledtheheadbystretchingaword——foritislittlemorethantheentrancetoanintestine——thefrontisarmedwithtwolittleblackhooks，whichslideinatranslucentsheath，projectalittlewayoutsideandgointurnbyturn。Arewetolookupontheseasmandibles？Notatall，for，insteadofhavingtheirpointsfacingeachother，aswouldberequiredinarealmandibularapparatus，thetwohooksworkinparalleldirectionsandnevermeet。Whattheyareisambulatoryorgans，grapnelsassistinglocomotion，whichgiveapurchaseontheplaneandenabletheanimaltoadvancebymeansofrepeatedcontractions。Themaggotwalkswiththeaidofwhatasuperficialexaminationwouldpronouncetobeamachineforeating。Itcarriesinitsgullettheequivalentoftheclimber’salpenstock。
　　Letusholdit，onapieceofflesh，underthelens。Weshallseeitwalkingabout，raisingandloweringitsheadand，eachtime，stabbingthemeatwithitspairofhooks。Whenstationary，withitscrupperatrest，itexploresspacewithacontinualbendingofitsforepart;itspointedheadpokesabout，jabsforward，goesbackagain，producingandwithdrawingitsblackmechanism。Thereisaperpetualpistonplay。Well，lookascarefullyandconscientiouslyasIplease，Idonotonceseetheweaponsofthemouthtackleaparticleoffleshthatistornawayandswallowed。
　　Thehookscomedownuponthemeatateverymoment，butnevertakeavisiblemouthfulfromit。Nevertheless，thegrubwaxesbigandfat。Howdoesthissingularconsumer，whofeedswithouteating，setaboutit？Ifhedoesnoteat，hemustdrink;hisdietissoup。
　　Asmeatisacompactsubstance，whichdoesnotliquefyofitsownaccord，theremust，inthatcase，beacertainrecipetodissolveitintoafluidbroth。Letustrytosurprisethemaggot’ssecret。
　　Inaglasstube，sealedatoneend，Iinsertapieceofleanflesh，thesizeofawalnut，whichIhavedrainedofitsjuicesbysqueezingitinblottingpaper。Onthetopofthis，Iplaceafewslabsofgreenbottleeggscollectedamomentagofromthesnakeinmyearthenpan。Thenumberofgermsis，roughly，twohundred。I
　　closethetubewithacottonplug，standitupright，inashadycornerofmystudy，andleavethingstotaketheircourse。A
　　controltube，preparedlikethefirst，butnotstockedwithmaggots，isplacedbesideit。
　　Asearlyastwoorthreedaysafterthehatching，Iobtainastrikingresult。Themeat，whichwasthoroughlydrainedbytheblottingpaper，hasbecomesomoistthattheyoungverminleaveawetmarkbehindthemastheycrawlovertheglass。Theswarmingbroodcreatesasortofmistwiththecrossingandcriss—crossingofitstrails。Thecontroltube，onthecontrary，keepsdry，provingthatthemoistureinwhichthewormsmoveisnotduetoamereexudationfromthemeat。
　　Besides，theworkofthemaggotbecomesmoreandmoreevident。
　　Gradually，thefleshflowsineverydirectionlikeanicicleplacedbeforethefire。Soon，theliquefactioniscomplete。Whatweseeisnolongermeat，butfluidLiebig’sextract。IfIoverturnedthetube，notadropofitwouldremain。
　　Letusclearourmindsofanyideaofsolutionbyputrefaction，forinthesecondtubeapieceofmeatofthesamekindandsizehasremained，saveforcolorandsmell，whatitwasatthestart。Itwasalumpanditisalump，whereasthepiecetreatedbythewormsrunslikemeltedbutter。Herewehavemaggotchemistryabletorousetheenvyofphysiologistswhenstudyingtheactionofthegastricjuice。
　　Iobtainbetterresultsstillwithhard—boiledwhiteofegg。Whencutintopiecesthesizeofahazelnutandhandedovertothegreenbottle’sgrubs，thecoagulatedalbumendissolvesintoacolorlessliquidwhichtheeyemightmistakeforwater。Thefluiditybecomessogreatthat，forlackofasupport，thewormsperishbydrowninginthebroth;theyaresuffocatedbytheimmersionoftheirhindpart，withitsopenbreathingholes。Onadenserliquid，theywouldhavekeptatthesurface;onthis，theycannot。
　　Acontroltube，filledinthesameway，butnotcolonized，standsbesidethatinwhichthestrangeliquefactiontakesplace。Thehardboiledwhiteofeggretainsitsoriginalappearanceandconsistency。Incourseoftime，itdriesup，ifitdoesnotturnmoldy;andthatisall。
　　Theotherquaternarycompoundsperformingthesamefunctionsasalbumen——theglutenofcereals，thefibrinofblood，thecaseinofcheeseandtheleguminofchickpeas——undergoasimilarmodification，invaryingdegrees。Fed，fromthemomentofleavingtheegg，onanyoneofthesesubstances，thewormsthriveverywell，providedthattheyescapedrowningwhenthegruelbecomestooclear;theywouldnotfarebetteronacorpse。And，asageneralrule，thereisnotmuchdangerofgoingunder:thematteronlyhalfliquefies;itbecomesarunningpeasoup，ratherthananactualfluid。
　　Eveninthisimperfectcase，itisobviousthatthegreenbottlegrubsbeginbyliquefyingtheirfood。Incapableoftakingsolidnourishment，theyfirsttransformthespoilintorunningmatter;
　　then，dippingtheirheadsintotheproduct，theydrink，theyslaketheirthirst，withlongsups。Theirdissolvent，comparableinitseffectswiththegastricjuiceofthehigheranimals，is，beyondadoubt，emittedthroughthemouth。Thepistonofthehooks，continuallyinmovement，neverceasesspittingitoutininfinitesimaldoses。Eachspottouchedreceivesagrainofsomesubtlepepsin，whichsoonsufficestomakethatspotrunineverydirection。Asdigesting，whenallissaid，merelymeansliquefying，itisnoparadoxtoassertthatthemaggotdigestsitsfoodbeforeswallowingit。
　　Theseexperimentswithmyfilthy，evilsmellingtubeshavegivenmesomedelightfulmoments。TheworthyAbbeSpallanzanimusthaveknownsomesuchwhenhesawpiecesofrawmeatbegintorunundertheactionofthegastricjuicewhichhetook，withpelletsofsponge，fromthestomachsofcrows。Hediscoveredthesecretsofdigestion;herealizedinaglasstubethehithertounknownlaborsofgastricchemistry。I，hisdistantdisciple，beholdoncemore，underamostunexpectedaspect，whatstrucktheItalianscientistsoforcibly。Wormstaketheplaceofthecrows。Theyslaveruponmeat，gluten，albumen;andthosesubstancesturntofluid。Whatourstomachdoeswithinitsmysteriousrecessesthemaggotachievesoutside，intheopenair。Itfirstdigestsandthenimbibes。
　　Whenweseeitplungingintothecarrionbroth，weevenwonderifitcannotfeeditself，atleasttosomeextent，inamoredirectfashion。Whyshouldnotitsskin，whichisoneofthemostdelicate，becapableofabsorbing？Ihaveseentheeggofthesacredbeetleandotherdungbeetlesgrowingconsiderablylarger——I
　　shouldliketosay，feeding——inthethickatmosphereofthehatchingchamber。Nothingtellsusthatthegrubofthegreenbottledoesnotadoptthismethodofgrowing。Ipictureitcapableoffeedingalloverthesurfaceofitsbody。Tothegruelabsorbedbythemouthitaddsthebalanceofwhatisgatheredandstrainedthroughtheskin。Thiswouldexplaintheneedforprovisionsliquefiedbeforehand。
　　Letusgiveonelastproofofthispreliminaryliquefaction。Ifthecarcass——mole，snakeoranother——leftintheopenairhaveawiregauzecoverplacedoverit，tokeepouttheflies，thegamedriesunderahotsunandshrivelsupwithoutappreciablywettingthesandonwhichitlies。Fluidscomefromit，certainly，foreveryorganizedbodyisaspongeswollenwithwater;buttheliquiddischargeissoslowandrestrictedinquantitythattheheatandthedrynessoftheairdisperseitasitappears，whiletheunderlyingsandremainsdry，orverynearlyso。Thecarcassbecomesasaplessmummy，amerebitofleather。Ontheotherhand，donotusethewiregauzecover，letthefliesdotheirworkunimpeded;andthingsforthwithassumeanotheraspect。Inthreeorfourdays，anoozingsaniesappearsundertheanimalandsoaksthesandtosomedistance。
　　IshallneverforgetthestrikingspectaclewithwhichIconcludethischapter。Thistime，thedishisamagnificentAesculapius’
　　snake，ayardandahalflongandasthickasawidebottleneck。
　　Becauseofitssize，whichexceedsthedimensionsofmypan，Irollthereptileinadoublespiral，orintwostoreys。Whenthecopiousjointisinfullprocessofdissolution，thepanbecomesapuddlewhereinwallow，incountlessnumbers，thegrubsofthegreenbottleandthoseofSarcophagacarnaria，theGreyorcheckeredfleshfly，whichareevenmightierliquefiers。Allthesandintheapparatusissaturated，hasturnedintomud，asthoughtherehadbeenashowerofrain。Throughtheholeatthebottom，whichisprotectedbyaflatpebble，thegrueltricklesdropbydrop。Itisastillatwork，amortuarystill，inwhichtheSnakeisbeingdrawnoff。Waitaweekortwo;andthewholewillhavedisappeared，drunkupbythesun:naughtbutthescalesandboneswillremainonasheetofmud。
　　Toconclude:themaggotisapowerinthisworld。Togivebacktolife，withallspeed，theremainsofthatwhichhaslived，itmaceratesandcondensescorpses，distillingthemintoanessencewherewiththeearth，theplant’sfostermother，maybenourishedandenriched。