The Mantis: her Love-making 



game, the Locust, around her. She prac- 

 tises the equivalent of cannibalism, that hide- 

 ous peculiarity of man. 



These aberrations, these child-bed crav- 

 ings can reach an even more revolting stage. 

 Let us watch the pairing and, to avoid the 

 disorder of a crowd, let us isolate the couples 

 under different covers. Each pair shall have 

 its own home, where none will come to dis- 

 turb the wedding. And let us not forget 

 the provisions, with which we will keep them 

 well supplied, so that there may be no ex- 

 cuse of hunger. 



It is near the end of August. The male, 

 that slender swain, thinks the moment pro- 

 pitious. He makes eyes at his strapping 

 companion; he turns his head in her direc- 

 tion; he bends his neck and throws out his 

 chest. His little pointed face wears an almost 

 impassioned expression. Motionless, in this 

 posture, for a long time he contemplates the 

 object of his desire. She does not stir, is as 

 though indifferent. The lover, however, has 

 caught a sign of acquiescence, a sign of which 

 I do not know the secret. He goes nearer; 

 suddenly he spreads his wings, which quiver 

 with a convulsive tremor. That is his 

 declaration. He rushes, small as he is, upon 



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