The Lunary Copris 



gant dimensions of the hall. They form a 

 dish worthy of the wedding of Camacho the 

 Rich, a cake as broad as one's hand, of no 

 great thickness and varying in outline. I 

 have found them oval-shaped, kidney-shaped, 

 shaped like a Starfish, with short, thick rays, 

 and long and pointed, like a Cat's tongue. 

 These minor details represent the pastry- 

 cook's fancies. The essential and constant 

 fact is this : in the six bakeries of my insect- 

 house, the sexes nre always both present be- 

 side the lump of paste, which, after being 

 kneaded according to rule, is now fermenting 

 and maturing. 



What does this long cohabitation prove? 

 It proves that the father has taken part in 

 digging the cellar, in storing the victuals 

 gathered by separate armfuls on the 

 threshold of the door and in kneading all 

 the scraps into a single lump, which is more 

 likely to improve by keeping. Were he a 

 useless, idle incubus, he would not stay there, 

 he would go back to the surface. The 

 father therefore is a diligent fellow-worker. 

 His assistance even looks as if it ought to 

 extend farther still. We shall see. 



Dear insects, my curiosity has disturbed 

 your housekeeping. But you were only 

 starting, you were having your house-warm- 

 357 



