Their incessant coming and going is a sign of intense cupidity; and yet none of them decides to lay on the bags.

They do not even attempt to slide their ovipositor through the slits of the folds.
The favourable season passes and not an egg is laid on the tempting wrappers.

All the mothers abstain, judging the slender obstacle of the paper to be more than the vermin will be able to overcome.
This caution on the Fly's part does not at all surprise me: motherhood everywhere has great gleams of perspicacity.

What does astonish me is the following result.

The parcels containing the Linnets are left for a whole year uncovered on the table; they remain there for a second year and a third.