THE SAME; VERTICAL
SECTION OF THE SAME; NEST OF THE GREY MANTIS;
SCHEFFER'S SISYPHUS (see Chap. XII.); PELLET OF
THE SISYPHUS; PELLET OF THE SISYPHUS, WITH
DEJECTA OF THE LARVA FORCED THROUGH THE
WALLS 88

THE MANTIS DEVOURING THE MALE IN THE ACT OF
MATING; THE MANTIS COMPLETING HER NEST;
GOLDEN SCARABAEI CUTTING UP A LOB-WORM 90

THE GOLDEN GARDENER: THE MATING SEASON OVER,
THE MALES ARE EVISCERATED BY THE FEMALES 114

THE FIELD-CRICKET: A DUEL BETWEEN RIVALS; THE
DEFEATED RIVAL RETIRES, INSULTED BY THE
VICTOR 124

THE ITALIAN CRICKET 132

THE GREAT PEACOCK OR EMPEROR MOTH 180

THE GREAT PEACOCK MOTH. THE PILGRIMS DIVERTED
BY THE LIGHT OF A LAMP 196

THE GREY LOCUST; THE NERVATURES OF THE WING;
THE BALANINUS FALLEN A VICTIM TO THE LENGTH
OF HER PROBOSCIS 244

THE PINE-CHAFER (_MELOLONTHA FULLO_) 318

SOCIAL LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD

CHAPTER I

THE FABLE OF THE CIGALE AND THE ANT

Fame is the daughter of Legend. In the world of creatures, as in the
world of men, the story precedes and outlives history. There are many
instances of the fact that if an insect attract our attention for this
reason or that, it is given a place in those legends of the people whose
last care is truth.

For example, who is there that does not, at least by hearsay, know the
Cigale? Where in the entomological world shall we find a more famous
reputation? Her fame as an impassioned singer, careless of the future,
was the subject of our earliest lessons in repetition. In short, easily
remembered lines of verse, we learned how she was destitute when the
winter winds arrived, and how she went begging for food to the Ant, her
neighbour. A poor welcome she received, the would-be borrower!--a
welcome that has become proverbial, and her chief title to celebrity.
The petty malice of the two short lines--

Vous chantiez! j'en suis bien aise,
Eh bien, dansez maintenant!

has done more to immortalise the insect than her skill as a musician.
"You sang! I am very glad to hear it! Now you can dance!" The wo