THE LANGUEDOCIAN SCORPION 231 



For over an hour, without tiring, I watch these inter- 

 minable comings and goings. A part of the household 

 lends me its eyes in the presence of the strange sight 

 which no one in the world has yet seen, at least with a 

 vision capable of observing. In spite of the lateness of 

 the hour, so upsetting to our habits, our attention is 

 concentrated and no essential thing escapes us. 



At last, at about ten o'clock, an event happens. The 

 male has lit upon a potsherd the shelter of which seems 

 to suit him. He releases his companion with one hand, 

 with one alone, and, continuing to hold her with the other, 

 he scratches with his legs and sweeps with his tail. A 

 grotto opens. He enters and, slowly, without violence, 

 drags the patient Scorpioness after him. Soon, both have 

 disappeared. A plug of sand closes the dwelling. The 

 couple are at home. 



To disturb them would be a blunder : I should be 

 interfering too soon, at an inopportune moment, if I 

 tried at once to see what was happening below. The 

 preliminary stages may last for the best part of the night ; 

 and it does not do for me, who have turned eighty, to sit 

 up so late. I feel my legs giving way ; and my eyes 

 seem full of sand. Let us go to sleep. 



All night long, I dream of Scorpions. They crawl under 

 my bed-clothes, they pass over my face ; and I am not 

 particularly excited, so many curious things do I see in 

 my imagination. The next morning, at day-break, I 

 raise the stoneware. The female is alone. Of the male 

 there is no trace, either in the home or in the neighbour- 

 hood. First disappointment, to be followed by many 

 others. 



10 May. It is nearly seven o'clock in the evening ; the 

 sky is overcast with signs of an approaching shower. 



