the apparently dangerous weapons with which the 

 fight is waged, is in the remotest likelihood of 

 losing his life or limb. Their armored bodies and 

 appendages are absolutely protected against crea- 

 tures no more formidable than one of their own 

 kind. It would seem, therefore, that all this energy 

 is expended to no purpose. Yet who knows 4 ? Who 

 can say what motives prompt the actions of such 

 minuscules'? That some motive moves them to 

 manifest their belligerent regard for each other, 

 there is no doubt. It does not follow that because 

 they are microscopic their behavior is more pur- 

 poseless or automatic than that of their larger re- 

 lations, the lobster and the crab. 



In any event, either is likely to conquer even if 

 he cannot kill; he can win on points, so to speak. 

 And I find myself deciding mentally to cheer on 

 the shorter of the twain. But to my surprise each 

 releases his grip and spends the ensuing five min- 

 utes apparently blissfully ignorant of the other, at 

 the end of which the opponent of my favorite de- 

 camps, measuring-worm fashion, in the direction of 

 the female. His purtenance appears not so praise- 

 worthy as I had fancied; and, if I retain any re- 

 spect for him, this display of cowardice loses it 



[145] 



