The Empusa 



the creature makes off with mighty strides, 

 helping itself along with its fighting-limbs, 

 which clutch the twigs. The flight need not 

 last long, if you have a practised eye. The 

 Empusa is captured, put into a screw of 

 paper, which will save her frail limbs from 

 sprains, and lastly penned in a wire-gauze 

 cage. In this way, in October, I obtain a 

 flock sufficient for my purpose. 



How to feed them? My Devilkins are 

 very little; they are a month or two old at 

 most. I give them Locusts suited to their 

 size, the smallest that I can find. They 

 refuse them. Nay more, they are frightened 

 of them. Should a thoughtless Locust 

 meekly approach one of the Empusae, sus- 

 pended by her four hind-legs to the trellised 

 dome, the Intruder meets with a bad recep- 

 tion. The pointed mitre Is lowered; and an 

 angry thrust sends him rolling. We have It: 

 the wlzard^s cap Is a defensive weapon, a 

 protective crest. The Ram charges with his 

 forehead, the Empusa butts with her mitre. 



But this does not mean dinner. I serve 

 up the House-fly, alive. She Is accepted, 

 without hesitation. The moment that the 

 Fly comes within reach, the watchful Devil- 

 kin turns her head, bends the stalk of her 



195 



