THE EMPUSA 33 



The flight need not last long, if you have a practised eye. 

 The Empusa is captured, put into a screw of paper, which 

 will save her frail limbs from sprains, and lastly penned 

 in a wire-gauze cage. In this way, in October, I obtain 

 a flock sufficient for my purpose. 



How to feed them ? My Devilkins are very little ; they 

 are a month or two old at most. I give them Locusts 

 suited to their size, the smallest that I can find. They 

 refuse them. Nay, more, they are frightened of them. 

 Should a thoughtless Locust meekly approach one of the 

 Empusse, suspended by her four hind-legs to the trellised 

 dome, the intruder meets with a bad reception. The 

 pointed miter is lowered ; and an angry thrust sends him 

 rolling. We have it: the wizard's cap is a defensive 

 weapon, a protective crest. The Ram charges with his 

 forehead, the Empusa butts with her miter. 



But this does not mean dinner. I serve up the House- 

 fly, alive. She is accepted, without hesitation. The 

 moment that the Fly comes within reach, the watchful 

 Devilkin turns her head, bends the stalk of her corselet 

 slantwise and, flinging out her fore-limb, harpoons the 

 Fly and grips her between her two saws. No Cat pounc- 

 ing upon a Mouse could be quicker. 



The game, however small, is enough for a meal. It is 

 enough for the whole day, often for several days. This 

 is my first surprise : the extreme abstemiousness of these 

 fiercely-armed insects. I was prepared for ogres: I 

 find ascetics satisfied with a meager collation at rare in- 

 tervals. A Fly fills their belly for twenty-four hours at 

 least. 



