206 SOCIAL LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD 



more the astonishing spectacle to which the great 

 nocturnal butterfly had first introduced me. The study 

 contained a cloud of males, which I estimated, at a 

 glance, as being about sixty in number, so far as the 

 movement and confusion allowed me to count them 

 at all. After circling a few times over the cage many 

 of them went to the open window, but returned 

 immediately to recommence their evolutions. The most 

 eager alighted on the cover, trampling on one another, 

 jostling one another, trying to get the best places. On 

 the other side of the barrier the captive, her great 

 body hanging against the wire, waited immovable. She 

 betrayed not a sign of emotion in the face of this 

 turbulent swarm. 



Going and entering, perched on the cover or fluttering 

 round the room, for more than three hours they con- 

 tinued their frenzied saraband. But the sun was sinking, 

 and the temperature was slowly falling. The ardour of 

 the butterflies also cooled. Many went out not to return. 

 Others took up their positions to wait for the gaieties of 

 the following day ; they clung to the cross-bars of the 

 closed window as the males of the Great Peacock had 

 done. The rejoicings were over for the day. They 

 would certainly be renewed on the morrow, since the 

 courtship was without result on account of the barrier of 

 the wire-gauze cover. 



But, alas ! to my great disappointment, they were not 

 resumed, and the fault was mine. Late in the day a 

 Praying Mantis was brought to me, which merited 

 attention on account of its exceptionally small size. 

 Preoccupied with the events of the afternoon, and 

 absent-minded, I hastily placed the predatory insect 



