230 THE LIFE AND LOVE OF THE INSECT 



able evenings supplies some feature that corroborates 

 and completes those which go before. I will therefore 

 continue my narration in the form of a diary. 



25 April, 1904. Hullo ! What is this, which I have 

 not yet seen ? My eyes, ever on the watch, look upon 

 the affair for the first time. Two Scorpions face each 

 other, with claws outstretched and fingers clasped. 

 It is a question of a friendly grasp of the hand and not 

 the prelude of a battle, for the two partners behave 

 to each other in the most peaceful way. There is one 

 of either sex. One is paunchy and browner than the 

 other : that is the female ; the other is comparatively 

 slim and pale : that is the male. With their tails prettily 

 curled, the couple stroll with measured steps along the 

 pane. The male is ahead and walks backwards, without 

 jolt or jerk, without any resistance to overcome. The 

 female follows obediently, clasped by her finger-tips and 

 face to face with her leader. 



The stroll has halts that alter nothing in the manner 

 of the tie ; it is resumed, now here, now there, from end 

 to end of the enclosure. Nothing shows the object which 

 the strollers have in view. They loiter, they dawdle, they 

 most certainly exchange ogling glances. Even so, in 

 my village, on Sundays, after vespers, do the youth 

 of both sexes saunter along the hedges, every Jack with 

 his Jill. 



Often they tack about. It is always the male who 

 decides which fresh direction the pair shall take. With- 

 out releasing her hands, he turns gracefully to the left 

 or right about and places himself side by side with his 

 companion. Then, for a moment, with his tail laid flat, 

 he strokes her spine. The other stands motionless, 

 impassive. 



