The latter is no thicker than a horsehair, reddish in colour, almost rectilinear, and of such length that in order not to stumble the insect is forced to carry it stiffly outstretched like a lance in rest.

What is the use of this embarrassing pike, this ridiculous snout?
Here I can see some reader shrug his shoulders.

Well, if the only end of life is to make money by hook or by crook, such questions are certainly ridiculous.
Happily there are some to whom nothing in the majestic riddle of the universe is little.

They know of what humble materials the bread of thought is kneaded; a nutriment no less necessary than the bread made from wheat; and they know that both labourers and inquirers nourish the world with an accumulation of crumbs.
Let us take pity on the question, and proceed.

Without seeing it at work, we already suspect that the fantastic beak of the Balaninus is a drill analogous to those which we ourselves use in order to perforate hard materials.