The Dwarfs 



mal subjects they reach the extreme point 

 of the head. I measure the little beggar. 

 His length is twelve millimetres ^ instead of 

 eighteen, ^ the ordinary size. According to 

 these figures, the dwarf is barely a quarter of 

 the usual bulk. 



In an earher chapter of the present vol- 

 ume, I mentioned a magnificent male Mino- 

 taur who was obstinately refused by the con- 

 sort whom my experiments had given him. 

 The handsome horn-bearer did not leave the 

 burrow; the other, despite my frequent inter- 

 ventions to restore harmony in the house- 

 hold, deserted her home nightly and sought 

 to set up house elsewhere. I had to give her 

 another partner; the one that I had thrust 

 upon her did not suit her. If the male en- 

 dowed with a generous stature and trident is 

 often refused, how did the miserable speci- 

 men under consideration win the affections 

 of his powerful mate? The unequal associ- 

 ations are doubtless to be explained among 

 the Dung-beetles as among ourselves : love 

 is blind. 



Would this ill-assorted pair have bred? 

 And would one part of the family have in- 



1 .468 inch. — Translator's Note. 



2 .702 inch. — Translator's Note. 



239 



