‘When the listener does not understand and the speaker does not himself know what he is saying, then they are talking metaphysics.’ ‘And advanced science,’ let us add. We will confine ourselves to stating the problem of the Cionus, without much hope that some day it will be clearly solved. For that matter, if the truth be told, it may be that there is no problem at all. The grub of the Cionus was a vagabond in the beginning and a vagabond it will remain, among the other Weevil-grubs, which are all essentially stay-at-home larvæ. Let us leave it at that: it is the simplest and most lucid explanation. NOTES [1] The Vocontii were a nation of Gauls inhabiting the Viennaise, between the Allobroges on the north, the Caturiges and the estates of King Cottius on the east, the Cavares on the west and the Memini and Vulgientes on the south. Vasio (Vocontia), now Vaison, was their capital.—Translator’s Note. [2] Caius Plinius Secundus (23–79), known as Pliny the Elder, or the Naturalist, to distinguish him from his nephew Caius Plinius Cæcilius Secundus (61–c. 115), commonly called Pliny the Younger, the historian. He was the author of the famous Naturalis Historia.—Translator’s Note. [3] The Garden Warbler, or Bush-pipet, a bird which is considered a great delicacy, especially in the autumn, when it feeds on figs, grapes and so on. Cf. The Hunting Wasps, by J. Henri Fabre, translated by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos: chap. xii.—Translator’s Note. [4] From Massalia, the ancient name of Marseilles, of which Phocæa, in Asia Minor, was the mother city.—Translators Note. [5] ‘The god made these hours of leisure for us.’—Translator’s Note. [6] Colony of Nîmes. Nemansus was the Latin name of Nîmes.—Translator’s Note. [7] A form of Mussel.—Translator’s Note. [8] Another genus of bivalve molluscs.—Translator’s Note. [9] Piddocks.—Translator’s Note. [10] Or Cone-shells.—Translator’s Note. [11] Bivalved Ostracods.—Translator’s Note. [12] A genus of molluscs including the Surf Clams and related species.—Translator’s Note. [13] Gastropods with a rough, spinose shell.—Translator’s Note. [14] Gastropods with an elongated, turreted shell.—Translator’s Note. [15] Or Mitre-shells. Gastropods with a fusiform shell suggesting a bishop’s mitre.—Translator’s Note. [16] Or Ground-beetle. Cf. The Glow-worm and Other Beetles, by J. Henri Fabre, translated by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos: chap. xiii.—Translator’s Note. [17] Cf. The Sacred Beetle and Others, by J. Henri Fabre, translated by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos: passim.—Translator’s Note. [18] Cf. The Glow-worm and Other Beetles: chap. viii.—Translator’s Note. [19] The Great Water-beetle. Cf. The Glow-worm and Other Beetles: chap. x.—Translator’s Note. [20] The Whirligig Beetle. Cf. The Life of the Fly, by J. Henri Fabre, translated by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos: chap. vii.—Translator’s Note. [21] A carnivorous Water-beetle. Cf. idem: chaps. vii. and viii.—Translator’s Note.