MINOTAURUS TYPHCEUS 129 



better than the higher animals to the investigations of 

 our curiosity. Besides, the others are our near neigh- 

 bours and do but repeat a somewhat monotonous theme, 

 whereas the insect, with its unparalleled wealth of in- 

 stincts, habits and structure, reveals a new world to us, 

 much as though we were conferring with the natives of 

 another planet. This is the reason that makes me con- 

 stantly renew my unwearied relations with the insect 

 and hold it in such high esteem. 



Minotaurus Typhceus favours the open sandy places 

 where, on their way to the grazing-ground, the flocks of 

 sheep scatter their trails of black pellets which constitute 

 his regulation fare. Couples jointly addicted to nest- 

 building begin to meet in the first days of March. The 

 two sexes, until then isolated in surface-burrows, are now 

 associated for a long time to come. 



Do the husband and wife recognize each other among 

 their fellows ? Are they mutually faithful ? Cases of 

 breach of matrimony are very rare, in fact unknown, on 

 the part of the mother, who has long ceased to leave the 

 house ; on the other hand, they are frequent on the part 

 of the father, whose duties often oblige him to come 

 outside. As will be seen presently, he is, throughout his 

 life, the purveyor of victuals and the person entrusted 

 with the carriage of the rubbish. Alone, at different 

 hours of the day, he flings out of doors the earth thrown 

 up by the mother's excavations ; alone he explores the 

 vicinity of the home at night, in quest of the pellets 

 whereof his sons' loaves shall be kneaded. 



Sometimes, two burrows are side by side. Cannot the 

 collector of provisions, on returning home, easily mistake 

 the door and enter another's house ? On his walks 

 abroad, does he never happen to meet ladies taking the 



17 



