The Glow-Worm and Other Beetles 



reins in both hands. Thus mastering his 

 mount, he is sometimes motionless and some- 

 times frenzied in his demonstrations. Then, 

 with his long abdomen, he lashes the female's 

 hinder-parts, first on one side, then on the 

 other; the front part he flogs, hammers and 

 pounds with blows of his antennae, head and 

 feet. The object of his desires will be un- 

 feeling indeed if she refuse to surrender to 

 so passionate a declaration. 



Nevertheless she still requires entreating. 

 The impassioned lover resumes his ecstatic 

 immobility, with his quivering arms out- 

 stretched like the limbs of a cross. At brief 

 intervals the amorous outbursts, with blows 

 conscientiously distributed, recur in alterna- 

 tion with periods of repose, during which 

 the male holds his fore-legs crosswise, or else 

 masters the female by the bridle of her an- 

 tennae. At last the flagellated beauty allows 

 herself to be touched by the charm attendant 

 on his thumps. She yields. Coupling takes 

 place and lasts for twenty hours. The he- 

 roic part of the male's performance is over. 

 Dragged backwards behind the female, the 

 poor fellow strives to uncouple himself. His 

 mate carts him about from leaf to leaf, wher- 

 ever she pleases, so that she may choose the 

 bit of green stuff to her taste. Sometimes he 

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