Before giving up all hope I proposed once more to examine the egg-chambers and their contents.

The morning was cold, and the first fire of the season had been lit in my room.

I placed my little bundle on a chair before the fire, but without any intention of testing the effect of the heat of the flames upon the concealed eggs.

The twigs, which I was about to cut open, one by one, were placed there to be within easy reach of my hand, and for no other reason.
Then, while I was examining a split twig with my magnifying-glass, the phenomenon which I had given up all hope of observing took place under my eyes.

My bundle of twigs was suddenly alive; scores and scores of the young larvae were emerging from their egg-chambers.