XV 



mortar and lieaped up in the hump." A large cavity has been 

 made by the larva consuming its provisions, and this has to 

 be reduced to small dimensions so as just to hold the pupa 

 comfortably. 



The wall of the cell was removed on one side for the purpose 

 of photographing the larva which then began at once to 

 rebuild the wall from its stercoral cement, which it discharged 

 and moulded into position with the assistance of its mandibles. 

 It soon closed itself in, and was allowed to rest quietly for a 

 few days (Fig. 3). On again opening up the cell, the larva, 

 of a beautiful clear white, " with its body emptied of all 

 dross " is seen to occupy nearly the whole of the reduced 

 interior whose smooth plastered wall was formed from the 

 balance of the mortar (Fig. 4). 



The first pupa was noticed on Aug. 27, " half- transparent 

 and as it were carved out of crystal " (Fig. 5). Fabre gives 

 the first week of July as the date for observing the " nymph " 

 as he calls it. Unfortunately all my pupae except one were 

 those of females. Both sexes have, however, certain structures 

 which gave Fabre occasion for much speculation as to their 

 use. 



He says : "On the front edge of the corselet, a single horn 

 arises, shaped like a cylinder ending in a conical knob. It 

 points forward and is fixed in the middle of the frontal crescent, 

 projecting a little beyond it. To right and left the abdomen 

 is armed on either side with four little horns resembling 

 crystal spikes. What does the insect propose to do with 

 these excrescences ? Nothing at all. They are passing 

 fancies, jewels of early youth; the adult insect will not retain 

 the least trace of them. When the nymph sheds its covering 

 and the delicate tunic of the adult form is rent, these strange 

 horns crumble into fragments with the rest of the cast clothing. 

 In the hope of finding at least a trace of the vanished things 

 the lens vainly exj)lores the bases but lately occupied. There 

 is nothing appreciable left; the nymph is now smooth; the 

 real has given place to the non-existent." 



Fabre follows this account with speculations as to the 

 " motive of this horned magnificence," and advances various 

 surmises on the subject. He says that none of the Onthophagi 



