The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-12-05

tected from the scorching rays of the
sun, cold and rain, and not at all likely
to be disturbed by enemies. If he is
unable to travel, the m~onotony of his
life is often broken by the gentle mo-
ton of his snug house as it is tossed
about by the wind. If Seesid's sur.
roundings are such as are described
above, how long do you suppose he can
live shut up in a tiny dark room like q
hermit?
You have heard the story of the man
who suddenly found a large pile of gold
in a cave and gIoated ever his riches till,
all at once, he discovered that he was
alone and without the ability to es.
cape. lie could not eat the gold, nor
was he able to buy food with it. AL.
though rich. he must perish by starva.
ton. Scesid was more fortunate. His
cave was not supplied with gold, but
was lined all over with the incest kind
of food. All he had to do was to taste
end eat until satisfied, then lie and en-.
JSJ it. As he ate and grew he needed
nor room, and the room enlarged
much after the fashion of the shell of an
oyster or snail.
The story of Seesid may seem like a
fairy tale, but it is all true in every
particular, as any observing boy or
girl may learn, who has the opportuni-
~ and takes the pains to examine
the heart-Ieaved willow or the Can.
adian golden rods from July to the
following spring. Seesid's mother,
whom he never saw nor knew, by what
mortals call "~instinct" bored a hole
with her own little augur in the ten
der tip of the growing willow or the
young stem of the golden rod, and in
it laid a tiny egg. The plant TO the
left in the cut shows a round bunch
in the stem of a golden rod bigger than
your thumb, and within such an odd
thing may be found a tiny worm or
grub. The plant TO the right looks
The pine cone bears seeds, the willow
cones bear small insects. When The
egg a laid in the tip of the stem
from which Seesid was to hatch, that
part of the willow did not die, and
thus get rid Of its enemy, as we would
suppose, but Immediately changed its
mode of growth. The stem ceased
growing larger, and what would have
become the long, slender leaves grew
broad and short, thick and close to,
gether, making for Seesid a snug house
an inch and a half high.
Isn't it queer that the willow, when
thus wounded, will Immediately change
the habit of some of it's buds TO fur,
nish lodging and food for its enemy
We do not know, but possibly in s5mt
way, sometime, Seesid may do some
thing to benefit the willow. The will
low shouldn't be very particular abou.
it, for there are many uninjureC
branches and plenty of good leaves be
sides the small number which grow
into ones.
Seesid eats and grows and moults Il
full size, remaining dormant with The
willow through the storms Of winter
After the melting SHOWS have run into
the river or sunk into the soft cartI
and the heat Of spring begins to revive
dormant buds, we suppose Seesid be
gins to want TO know more of the out
side world. AS long as he needed it
The little room furnished food, but
rate in autumn, the cone hardened anC
died. Seesid was comfortable nnt
doubtless as happy as lonely mites car
be. In his perfected new dress. supplied
with two gauze-like wings and small
eyes, Seesid with his newly acquired
jaws tears a doorway through the hare
walls, enjoys the light for q minute
and with confidence in his untrieC
wings leaves his little cone forever
His new mode of life requires food elf
ferent from that furnished BIZ the OLE
home. Sec3id seeks something gooC
to eat and companions of his kind
and con more eggs are placed in morr
young twigs of growing willow, to pro
duce more young Seesids.
Next time you see the bGnch on Ia,
%goIden-rod stalk or the cone or the viii
low. pull it apart and take a look at tn,
Interesting little insect, Sees:d.-Chi
cago Record.