Pairing and Hunting 269 



hurries down again. Recovering from his 

 fright, he dimbs up once more, draws a Httle 

 nearer. More sudden flights, followed by fresh 

 approaches, each time nigher than before. 

 This restless running to and fro is the declara- 

 tion of the enamoured swain. 



Perseverance spells success. The pair are now 

 face to face, she motionless and grave, he all 

 excitement. With the tip of his leg, he ventures 

 to touch the plump wench. He has gone too 

 far, daring youth that he is ! Panic-stricken, he 

 takes a header, hanging by his safety-Hne. It 

 is only for a moment, however. Up he comes 

 again. He has learnt, from certain symptoms, 

 that we are at last yielding to his blandishments. 



With his legs and especially with his palpi, 

 or feelers, he teases the buxom gossip, who 

 answers with curious skips and bounds. Grip- 

 ping a thread with her front tarsi, or fingers, 

 she turns, one after the other, a number of back 

 somersaults, like those of an acrobat on the 

 trapeze. Having done this, she presents the 

 under-part of her paunch to the dwarf and allows 

 him to fumble at it a little with his feelers. 

 Nothing more : it is done. 



