The Cetoniae 



no sudden unfurling of the wings in an at- 

 tempt to escape. 



This life of junketing has already lasted a 

 fortnight without producing satiety. Such 

 a protracted banquet is not frequent; we do 

 not find it even in the Dung-beetles, who are 

 zealous eaters. When the Sacred Beetle, 

 spinning his Httle unbroken cord of intesti- 

 nal refuse, has remained a whole day on a 

 tasty morsel, it is the most that the gorman- 

 dizer can allow himself.^ But my Cetoniae 

 have been feasting on the sweets of the plum 

 and pear for a full fortnight; and there is 

 no sign yet that they have had enough. 

 When will the orgy make way for the wed- 

 ding and the cares of the future? 



Well, there will be no wedding and no 

 family-cares this year. These are put off 

 till next year: a singular postponement, 

 quite at variance with the usual custom, 

 which is to be extremely expeditious in these 

 important matters. It is the season of 

 fruits; and the Cetonia, a passionate glutton, 

 means to enjoy these good things without 



1 Cf. The Sacred Beetle and Others, by J. Henri Fabre, 

 translated by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos: chaps, i to 

 vii. and in particular chap. \v.— Translator's Note. 

 9 



