128 SOCIAL LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD 



the wing-cover itself. What a powerful sound results ! 

 The Decticus, endowed with only one indiflPerent 

 " mirror," can be heard only at a few paces ; the Cricket, 

 the possessor of four vibratory areas, can be heard at 

 a hundred yards. 



The Cricket rivals the Cigale in loudness, but his note 

 has not the displeasing, raucous quality of the latter. 

 Better still : he has the gift of expression, for he can sing 

 loud or soft. The wing-covers, as we have seen, are pro- 

 longed in a deep fold over each flank. These folds are 

 the dampers, which, as they are pressed downwards or 

 slightly raised, modify the intensity of the sound, and 

 according to the extent of their contact with the soft 

 abdomen now muffle the song to a mezza voce and now 

 let it sound fortissimo. 



Peace reigns in the cage until the warlike instinct of 

 the mating period breaks out. These duels between 

 rivals are frequent and lively, but not very serious. The 

 two rivals rise up against one another, biting at one 

 another's heads — these solid, fang-proof helmets — roll 

 each other over, pick themselves up, and separate. The 

 vanquished Cricket scuttles off as fast as he can ; the 

 victor insults him by a couple of triumphant and boast- 

 ful chirps ; then, moderating his tone, he tacks and 

 veers about the desired one. 



The lover proceeds to make himself smart. Hooking 

 one of his antennae towards him with one of his free 

 claws, he takes it between his mandibles in order to curl 

 it and moisten it with saliva. With his long hind legs, 

 spurred and laced with red, he stamps with impatience 

 and kicks out at nothing. Emotion renders him silent. 

 His wing-covers are nevertheless in rapid motion, but 



