CHAPTER VII 



A BARREN PROMISE 



IN the nymph of Onthophagus Taurus there rises, on the 

 front edge of the corselet, a single horn, as strong as the 

 two others and shaped like a cylinder ending in a conical 

 knob. It points forward and is fixed in the middle of 

 the frontal crescent, projecting a little beyond it. The 

 arrangement is gloriously original. The carvers of 

 hieroglyphics would have beheld in it the crescent of 

 Isis wherein dips the edge of the world. 



Other singularities complete the curious nymph. To 

 right and left, the stomach is armed, on either side, with 

 four little horns resembling crystal spikes. Total, eleven 

 pieces on the harness : two on the forehead ; one on 

 the thorax ; eight on the abdomen. The beast of yore 

 delighted in queer horns : certain reptiles of the geo- 

 logical period stuck a pointed spur on their upper eye- 

 lids. The Onthophagus, more daring, sports eight on the 

 sides of his belly, in addition to the spear which he plants 

 upon his back. The frontal horns may be excused : they 

 are pretty generally worn ; but what does he propose to 

 do with the others ? Nothing. They are passing fancies, 

 jewels of early youth ; the adult insect will not retain the 

 least trace of them. 



The nymph matures. The appendages of the forehead, 

 at first quite crystalline, now show, transparently, a streak 



