1915 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 65 



Pea-weevil : " We should expect to find signs of a procreative economy which would 

 impel the female to take into account the number of peas contained in the pod 

 which she has just explored ; we might expect her to set a numerical limit on her 

 eggs in conformity with that of the peas available. But no such limit is observed. 

 The rule of one pea to one grub is always contradicted by the multiplicity of 

 consumers. My observations are unanimous on this point. The number of eggs 

 deposited on one pod alvrays exceeds the number of peas available, and often to a 

 scandalous degree. However meagre the contents of the pod there is a superabund- 

 ance of consumers. Di^iding the sum of the eggs upon such or such a pod by 

 that of the peas contained therein, I find there are five to eight claimants for 

 each pea; I have found ten, and there is no reason why this prodigality should 

 not go still further ! What is to become of all these supernumeraries, perforce 

 excluded from the banquet for want of space ? " 



Some of Fabre's most interesting observations and descriptions in the second 

 volume before me relate to th^ habits of Dung Beetles, the Sacred Beetle, the 

 Spanish Copris, Geotrupes, and others. 



This is how he describes the making of the ball of manure by the Sacred 

 Beetle, which is to serve as food later on: "Armful by armful, the material is 

 neaped up under the belly, between the four legs, which, by a slight pressure, 

 impart their own curve to it and give it a first fashion. Then, between whiles, the 

 rough-hewn pill is set spinning betwixt the four branches of the two spherical , 

 compasses; it turns under the Dung Beetle's belly until it is rolled into a perfect 

 ball. Should the surface layer lack plasticity and threaten to peel off, should 

 some too-stringy part refuse to yield to the action of the wheel, the fore-legs correct 

 the faulty places; their broad beeters pat the ball to give consistency to the new 

 layer and to imbed the recalcitrant scrap into the mass. 



'*^ Under a hot sun, when the work is urgent, one stands amazed at the turner's 

 feverish activity. And thus the business proceeds apace: what was but lately a 

 scanty pellet is now a ball the size of a walnut; soon it will be a ball the size of 

 an apple. I have seen greedy-guts manufacture a ball the size of one's fist. Here, 

 of a certainty, is food in the larder for days to come !" 



The ball is then rolled to its burrow, often with great difficulty, either alone 

 or with the help of a comrade. " Let u? call the two fellow-workers partners, 

 although that is not the proper name for them, seeing that the one fastens himself 

 upon the other, who probably accepts outside help only for fear of a worse evil. 

 The meeting, however, is absolutely peacefu]. The beetle owning the ball does 

 not cease work for an instant at the arrival of his assistant, and the newcomer 

 seems animated by the best intentions and sets to work on the spot. The way in 

 which the two partners harness themselves differs. The owner occupies the chief 

 position, the place of honour; he pushes behind the load, with his hind-legs in the 

 air and his head down. The assistant is in the front, in the reserve position, head 

 up, toothed arms on the ball, long hind-legs on the ground. Between the two. the 

 ball rolls along, pushed before him by the first, dragged towards him by tlie 

 second." 



No one has described so well as Fabre the life and love of the dangerous 

 Languedocian Scorpion. With his usual patient and ingenious experiments he 

 lays bare for us the domestic life of these curious creatures. He reveals their 

 home life, their canibalistic mating, and the production of young. Here are a 

 few extracts relating to their mating habits:— 



"There are sometimes poses of the highest originality. Front to front and 



