The Life of the Grasshopper 



ground, disdained, not for lack of flavour, 

 but because there is too much of it. A Cab- 

 bage Butterfly far exceeds the capacity of 

 the Empusa's stomach. The Ants will bene- 

 fit by what is left. 



There is one other matter to be mentioned, 

 before observing the metamorphosis. The 

 position adopted by the young Empusae in 

 the wire-gauze cage is invariably the same 

 from start to finish. Gripping the trellis- 

 work by the claws of its four hind-legs, the 

 insect occupies the top of the dome and hangs 

 motionless, back downwards, with the whole 

 of its body supported by the four suspension- 

 points. If it wishes to move, the front har- 

 poons open, stretch out, grasp a mesh and 

 draw it to them. When the short walk is 

 over, the lethal arms are brought back 

 against the chest. One may say that it is 

 nearly always the four hind-shanks which 

 alone support the suspended insect. 



And this reversed position, which seems 

 to us so trying, lasts for no short while: it 

 is prolonged, in my cages, for ten months 

 without a break. The Fly on the ceiling, it 

 is true, occupies the same attitude; but she 

 has her moments of rest: she flies, she walks 

 in a normal posture, she spreads herself flat 



200 



