CHAPTER iV 



MINOTAURUS TYPHCEUS : THE BURROW 



' I ''O describe the insect which forms the 

 -■■ subject of this chapter, scientific nomen- 

 clature has combined two formidable names : 

 that of the Minotaur, Minos' Bull fed on 

 human flesh in the windings of the Cretan 

 labyrinth, and that of Typhon or Typhoeus, 

 one of the giants, sons of Terra, who at- 

 tempted to scale heaven. Thanks to the 

 clue of thread which he received from Mi- 

 nos' daughter Ariadne, Theseus the Athen- 

 ian found the Minotaur, slew him, and came 

 out safe and sound, after delivering his 

 country for ever from the dreadful tribute 

 destined for the monster's food. 



Typhoeus, struck by a thunder-bolt on his 

 piled-up mountains, was hurled into the 

 flanks of Etna. He is still there. His 

 breath is the smoke of the volcano. When 

 he coughs, he spews forth streams of lava; 

 when he shifts his weight from shoulder to 



