The Life of the Grasshopper 



drawn and resumes the defensive. The ad- 

 versary hits back. The fencing is rather 

 like that of two Cats boxing each other's 

 ears. At the first blood drawn from her 

 flabby paunch, or even before receiving the 

 least wound, one of the duellists confesses 

 herself beaten and retires. The other furls 

 her battle-standard and goes off elsewhither 

 to meditate the capture of a Locust, keeping 

 apparently calm, but ever ready to repeat the 

 quarrel. 



Very often, events take a more tragic 

 turn. At such times, the full posture of the 

 duels to the death is assumed. The mur- 

 derous fore-arms are unfolded and raised in 

 the air. Woe to the vanquished ! The other 

 seizes her in her vice and then and there pro- 

 ceeds to eat her, beginning at the neck, of 

 course. The loathsome feast takes place as 

 calmly as though it were a matter of crunch- 

 ing up a Grasshopper. The diner enjoys her 

 sister as she would a lawful dish; and those 

 around do not protest, being quite willing to 

 do as much on the first occasion. 



Oh, what savagery! Why, even Wolves 



are said not to eat one another. The Mantis 



has no such scruples; she banquets off her 



fellows when there is plenty of her favourite 



140 



