The Sense of Smell 



reveal what the Fly could hardly be expected 

 to show us. 



This is a pretty little black Beetle, with a 

 pale and velvety belly, round as a cherry- 

 stone and much the same size. The insect's 

 official title is Bolboceras gallicus, MULS. By 

 rubbing the tip of its abdomen against the 

 edge of its wing-cases it emits a soft chirrup 

 similar to that of the little birds when their 

 mother comes home with their food. The 

 male wears a graceful horn on his head, 

 copied on a smaller scale from that of the 

 Spanish Copris. 1 



Deceived by this armour, I at first took the 

 insect for a member of the Dung-*beetles' 

 corporation and brought it up as such in cap- 

 tivity. I served it with these stercoral dainties 

 which are most appreciated by its presumed 

 colleagues. But never, no, never did it con- 

 sent to touch them. Fie, for shame 1 Dung 

 to a Bolboceras ! Well ! What on earth did 

 I take him for? The epicure expects some- 

 thing very different. He wants not exactly 

 the truffle of our banquets, but its equivalent. 



1 One of the Dung-beetles. Cf. The Life and Love 

 of the Insect: chap, v. Translator's Note. 



309 



