“Does it think it can escape by not moving?” asked Emile.
“Doubtless, because then, even if it should by any chance be discovered, it would probably be mistaken for a grain of earth.”
“Wouldn’t it be better for it to fly away or run away than to play dead?”
“Its flight is too heavy and its legs too short. All insects that cannot take instant flight and are without means of defense do as does the vine-fretter in time of danger: they remain perfectly motionless. Nearly always this expedient succeeds with them because their color, commonly a dull one, causes them to be confounded with the soil.”
“Ah, the sly rogues!”
“Well, then, this ruse of the vine-fretter must be turned to account by us in our efforts to exterminate the insect. Under the vine we stretch a cloth, after which a sharp blow is given to the main stem. The vine-fretters let themselves fall, they play dead, but they can be seen on the cloth and not one escapes the sad fate awaiting it.” [[315]]
CHAPTER XLII
CLEVER MISCHIEF-MAKERS
“Here is another weevil I have to show you,” began Uncle Paul the next day. “What do you think of it? Note its shiny violet coat with glints of blue that bring out the delicate down with which the whole body is covered. The purple of our richest silks is not so magnificent.”