The Bull Onthophagus: the Cell 



Sisyphus and the Minotaur; ^ or is the 

 mating followed by a sudden and definite 

 rupture? The Bull Onthophagus shall tell 

 us. 



I delicately transfer two insects in the act 

 of coupling and establish them in another, 

 separate jar, provided with victuals and 

 fresh sand. The moving is performed 

 safely; the entwined pair remain united. A 

 quarter of an hour afterwards, they 

 separate; the great job is finished. The 

 food is close at hand. They refresh them- 

 selves for a moment; and then each, with- 

 out bothering in the least about the other, 

 digs his burrow and buries himself in 

 solitude. 



A week or so passes. The male re- 

 appears on the surface; he is restless, he 

 makes desperate efforts to climb out; the 

 relations are done, quite done; he wants to 

 get away. By and by, the female comes 

 up in her turn; she tries the nearest cake, 

 picks the best of it and takes it underground. 

 She is building her nest. As to her com- 

 panion, he does not even notice what is 

 happening: these things do not concern him. 



The other captives, of no matter what 



1 Cf. The Life and Love of the Insect: chap. x. — Trans- 

 lator's Note. 



383 



