The Poplar- Weevil 



reservedly, hustling their rivals off the field 

 and browsing on half the thickness of a leaf 

 which becomes furrowed with bare streaks 

 resembling a freakish handwriting. The 

 fatigues of the workshop are preceded by 

 merry-making in gay company. 



According to the rules of entomology, 

 once these rejoicings are over, all should be 

 quiet again and each mother should get to 

 work on her cigars without further distur- 

 bance. In this case the general law relents. 

 I have never seen a cylinder formed without 

 a male lurking in the neighbourhood; and, 

 if I had the patience to wait, I should not 

 fail to witness repeated pairings. These 

 weddings renewed for each egg puzzle me. 

 Where, on the faith of the text-books, I 

 looked for a single mating, I find an indefinite 

 number. 



This is not an isolated instance. I will 

 mention a second, which is even more strik- 

 ing. It is supplied by the Capricorn (Cer- 

 ambyx heros). I rear a few couples in 

 captivity, with sliced pears for food and 

 with oak billets wherein to lay the eggs. 

 The pairing is continued during almost the 

 whole of July. For four weeks the long- 

 i55 



