2 INSECT LIFE i 



dipping on pointed wings over the meadows chasing 

 the midges which scatter their eggs in their airy 

 dance ; to see if the Eyed Lizard was sunning his 

 blue-spotted body at the mouth of a hole made in 

 the sandstone ; or if the flocks of Laughing Gulls, 

 come up from the sea after the legions of fish which 

 ascend the Rhone to spawn, were hovering over the 

 river, and now and again uttering their cry like the 

 laugh of a maniac. But enough ; suffice it to say 

 that, like simple folk who find much pleasure in 

 living with the brute creation, we were intending to 

 spend a morning in enjoying the ineffable awaken- 

 ing of life in springtime. 



We were not disappointed. The stickleback was 

 in full dress, his scales would have made silver look 

 dim ; his throat was of the brightest vermilion. 

 On the approach of a great horse -leech with no 

 good intentions, up rose the spines on back and 

 side as if moved by a spring. Thus bravely en- 

 countered, the bandit beat an ignominious retreat 

 down among the water-plants. The dull race of 

 molluscs, Planorbinae, and water-snails were sucking 

 in air on the surface of the water, and the great 

 Water Beetle, with its hideous larva, went by wring- 

 ing the neck now of one, now of another, without 

 the stupid band seeming to notice it. But let us 

 leave the waters of the plain and climb the steep 

 cliff dividing us from the tableland where sheep are 

 feeding and horses are being exercised for the 

 approaching races, one and all bestowing largesse 

 on the rejoicing dung beetles. 



For here at work are the scavenger beetles to 

 whom is entrusted the high office of clearing the 



