The Pine Cockchafer 



avoid the hand put out to seize them. 

 Hanging by their hind-legs, most of them 

 nibbhng a pine-needle, they slumber drowsily, 

 with the morsel^ in their mouths. When 

 twilight returns, they resume their frolics. 



To watch these frolics in the tops of the 

 trees is hardly possible; let us try to watch 

 them in captivity. I collect four couples 

 in the morning and place them in a roomy 

 cage, with a few twigs of pine. The spec- 

 tacle hardly comes up to my expectations. 

 This is because they are deprived of the 

 power of flight. At most, from time to 

 time, a male approaches his coveted bride; 

 he spreads the leaves of his antennae and 

 shakes them with a slight quiver, perhaps to 

 discover If he is welcome; he shows off, 

 exhibiting his antlered beauty. It is a use- 

 less display: the female does not budge, as 

 though insensible to these demonstrations. 

 Captivity has sorrows that are hard to over- 

 come. More than this I could not see. 

 Pairing, It seems, must take place during the 

 later hours of the night, so that I have missed 

 the propitious moment. 



One detail In particular Interested me. 

 The Pine-chafer possesses a musical instru- 

 ment. Male and female are similarly 



201 



