The White-faced Decticus: the Eggs 



rut; carnage and voluptuousness in one; a 

 reminiscence perhaps of ancient savagery. 



As a rule, the male, a dwarf by comparison 

 with the female, hastens to run away as soon 

 as his task is consummated. The deserted 

 one makes no movement. Then, after wait- 

 ing twenty minutes or so, she curves herself 

 into a ring and proceeds to enjoy the final 

 banquet. She pulls the sticky raisin-pip into 

 shreds which are chewed with grave appre- 

 ciation and then gulped down. It takes her 

 more than an hour to sw^allow the thing. 

 When not a crumb remains, she descends 

 from the wire gauze and mingles with the 

 herd. Her eggs will be laid in a day or 

 two. 



The proof is established. The matri- 

 monial habits of the White-faced Decticus 

 are not an exception due to the heat of the 

 climate : the Grasshopper from the cold 

 peaks shares them and surpasses them. 



We will return to the big Decticus with 

 the ivory face. The laying follows close 

 upon the strange events which we have de- 

 scribed. It is done piecemeal, as the ovaries 

 ripen. Firmly planted on her six legs, the 

 mother bends her abdomen into a semicircle 

 and drives her sabre perpendicularly into the 



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