THE LANGUEDOCIAN SCORPION 235 



I suspected that the male, if he did not break loose in time, 

 once his functions were fulfilled, was devoured, wholly or 

 partly, according to the matron's appetite. I now have 

 the certain proof before my eyes. Yesterday, I saw the 

 couple enter their home after the usual preliminary, the 

 stroll ; and, this morning, under the same tile, at the 

 moment of my visit, the bride is consuming her mate. 



We are entitled to believe that the poor wretch has at- 

 tained his ends. Were he still necessary to the brood, 

 he would not yet be eaten. The actual couple have 

 therefore been quick about the business, whereas I see 

 others fail to finish after provocations and contemplations 

 exceeding in duration the time which it takes the hour- 

 hand to go twice round the clock. Circumstances which 

 it is impossible to state with precision the condition of 

 the atmosphere, perhaps, the electric tension, the tempera- 

 ture, the individual ardour of the couple to a large 

 extent accelerate or delay the finale of the pairing ; and 

 this is what constitutes the serious difficulty for the ob- 

 server anxious to seize the exact moment whereat the 

 as yet uncertain function of the combs might be revealed. 



14 May. It is certainly not hunger that sets my 

 animals in commotion night after night. The quest of 

 food has nothing to say to their evening rounds. I have 

 served up a varied bill of fare to the busy crowd, a fare 

 chosen from that which they appear to like best. It 

 includes tender morsels in the shape of young Crickets ; 

 small Locusts, fleshier and in better condition than the 

 Acridians ; Moths minus their wings. In a more advanced 

 season, I add Dragon-flies, a highly-appreciated dish, as 

 is proved by their equivalent, the full-grown Ant-lion, 

 of whom I often find the scraps, the wings, in the Scor- 

 pions' cave. 



