The Hermit of Serlgnan 



two combatants proceed to stand on their heads: 

 that is, supporting themselves only on the fore part 

 of the body, they raise the hinder part in the air, 

 so high that the thorax reveals the eight white 

 breathing-pockets. The tails, stretched out in a 

 straight line and raised into a vertical position, 

 rub together, slipping over each other, while their 

 extremities are bent into a hook and gently, over 

 and over again, knot themselves together and re- 

 lease themselves. Suddenly the amicable pyramid 

 falls to the ground and each scuttles off without 

 further ceremony. 



What did these two wrestlers intend by their 

 original posture? Was it the grappling of two 

 rivals? It would seem not, so pacific was the 

 encounter. Subsequent observations tell me that 

 these arc the allurements of the betrothal. To 

 declare his passion, the Scorpion stands on his 

 head.^ 



This reconnaissance and these first ad- 

 vances are followed by a sentimental prome- 

 nade. 



Two Scorpions are face to face, their claws 

 outstretched, their hands clasped. Their tails 

 curved in graceful spirals, the couple wander with 

 measured steps the length of the window. The 

 male goes first, walking backwards, smoothly, en- 



1 Souvenirs, ix., pp. 300-301. The Life and Love of the 

 Insect, chap. xvii. 



247 



