Gold Beetles: Their Nuptial Habits 



dragged by her; and here his resistance ends. 

 The combat lasts a quarter of an hour. 

 Other Beetles passing by, stop, as though to 

 say: 



"My turn next." 



At last, redoubling his efforts, the male 

 frees himself and escapes. No doubt, if he 

 had not succeeded in getting away, he would 

 have had his belly gutted by the fearsome 

 dame. 



A few days later I witness a similar scene, 

 but this time the tragedy is completed. Once 

 more it is a female who seizes a male from 

 behind. The bitten one submits with no 

 more protest than his vain efforts to release 

 himself. The skin at last gives way, the 

 wound widens, the viscera are rooted out and 

 swallowed by the matron, who empties the 

 carapace with her head buried in her com- 

 peer's belly. The tremors of the poor 

 wretch's legs announce his approaching end. 

 The murderess takes no notice and continues 

 to rummage as far up as the narrow entrance 

 to the thorax allows her to go. Nothing is 

 left of the deceased but the wing-cases, 

 packed boat-wise, and the fore-part of the 

 body, which is not disjointed. The empty 

 remains are abandoned where they lie. 

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