194 THE LIFE AND LOVE OF THE INSECT 



same vigour as though nothing had yet happened. And 

 this is repeated three or four times during the making of a 

 single cigar, so much so that one asks one's self whether 

 the depositing of each germ does not demand the direct 

 cooperation of the insatiable suitor. 



Accordmg to entomological rules, once the fun is over, 

 everj^thmg should relapse mto calmness and each mother 

 should to work at those cigars without further disturbance. 

 In this case, the general law relents. I have never seen a 

 scroll shaped without a male lurking in the neighbour- 

 hood ; and, when I have had the patience to wait, I have 

 always witnessed manifold pahings. These weddings 

 repeated for each germ puzzle me. Where, relying on 

 the books, I expected uniformity, I find uncertainty. 



This is not an isolated case. I will mention a second 

 and one that is even more striking. It is supplied by the 

 Capricorn (Cerambyx Heros). I bring up a few couples 

 in the volery, with sliced pears for food and oak billets 

 wherein to lay the eggs. Pahing-time lasts during nearly 

 the whole of July. For four weeks, the great horned one 

 does nothing but mount his companion, who, gripped 

 by her rider, wanders at will and, with the tip of her 

 oviduct, selects the fissures in the bark best-suited to 

 receive the eggs. 



At long mtervals, the Cerambyx alights and goes to 

 refresh himself with a piece of pear. Then, suddenly, he 

 stamps his feet as though he had gone mad ; he returns 

 with a frantic rush, clambers into the saddle and resumes 

 his position, of which he makes free use at all hours of 

 the night and day. 



At the moment when an egg is being deposited, he 

 keeps quiet : with his hairy tongue, he polishes the back 

 of the egg-layer, which is a Capricorn's way of caressing ; 



