The Life of the Grasshopper 



catch them. This highly-flavoured, substan- 

 tial, stimulating fare would almost make him 

 forget the existence of seeds, if it were only 

 there all the year round. 



Let us now consult the illustrious black- 

 footed tribe, so warmly celebrated by Tous- 

 serel. 1 The head of the family is the Wheat- 

 ear, the Cul-blanc, 2 as the Provencal calls 

 him, who grows disgracefully fat in Septem- 

 ber and supplies delicious material for the 

 skewer. At the time when I used to indulge 

 in ornithological expeditions, I made a 

 practice of jotting down the contents of 

 the birds' crops and gizzards, so as to be- 

 come acquainted with their diet. Here is 

 the Wheatear's bill of fare : Locusts, first of 

 all; next, many various kinds of Beetles, such 

 as Weevils, Opatra, Chrysomelae, or Golden- 

 apple-beetles, Cassidae, or Tortoise-beetles, 

 and Harpali; in the third place, Spiders, 

 luli, 3 Woodlice and small Snails; lastly and 



1 Alphonse Tousserel (1803-1885), author of a number 

 of interesting and valuable works on ornithology. 

 Translator's Note. 



* Also known as the Stone-chat, Fallow-chat, Whin- 

 chat, Fallow-finch and White-tail, which last corresponds 

 with the Cul-blanc of the Provencal dialect. The 

 French name for this Saxicola is the Motteux, or Clod- 

 hopper. Translator's Note. 



* Wormlike Millepedes. Translator's Note. 



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