The Life of the Grasshopper 



why, on catching the Cicada, she first rips 

 up his paunch, which supplies a mixture of 

 flesh and preserves. 



To eat Cicadas and sugar is not possible 

 in every part of the country. In the north, 

 where she abounds, the Green Grasshopper 

 would not find the dish which attracts her 

 so strongly here. She must have other re- 

 sources. To convince myself of this, I give 

 her Anoxiae (A. pilosa, FAB.), the summer 

 equivalent of the spring Cockchafer. The 

 Beetle is accepted without hesitation. No- 

 thing is left of him but the wing-cases, head 

 and legs. The result is the same with the 

 magnificent plump Pine Cockchafer (Melo- 

 lontha fullo, LIN.), a sumptuous morsel 

 which I find next day eviscerated by my gang 

 of knackers. 



These examples teach us enough. They 

 tell us that the Grasshopper is an inveterate 

 consumer of insects, especially of those 

 which are not protected by too hard a 

 cuirass; they are evidence of tastes which 



an English accent, quotes Euripides in the original Latin 

 and takes jam with his meat." 



I venture to think that Fabre, in the gentleness of his 

 heart, would have forgiven his translator for quoting 

 this flippant anecdote. I have no other excuse. Trans- 

 lator's Note. 



290 



