12 SEX-LORE 



his antics. This is repeated until we have counted 

 one hundred and eleven circles made by the ardent 

 little male. Now he approaches nearer and nearer, 

 and when almost within reach wheels madly around 

 and around her, she joining and wheeling with him 

 in a giddy maze. Again he falls back and resumes 

 his semicircular motions, with his body tilted over; 

 she all excitement lowers her head and raises her body 

 so that it is almost vertical. Both draw nearer; she 

 moves slowly under him, he crawling over her head, 

 and the mating is accomplished. The female always 

 watches the antics of the male intently, but often 

 refuses him in the end, even after dancing before her 

 for a long time." And then it often happens that 

 in a fit of violent excitement she devours him ! 



It is among the insects that we find a new factor 

 introduced for the first time into the drama of 

 courtship namely, music. It is true, it may be only 

 a rasping noise made by the wings and legs of certain 

 insects, such as grasshoppers and crickets; but it 

 seems to have charms enough to soothe the breast 

 of the female. It is the male who generally produces 

 this music to allure the female. There is one species 

 of crickets called Cicadas, the males of which make 

 a loud noise that can be heard a long way off. In 

 some cases it has been heard a mile away. The 

 silence of the females seems to have impressed a 

 Greek poet very much; for he took occasion to remark: 

 "Happy the Cicadas' lives, for they have voiceless 

 wives." This saying gives us a clue to the poet's 

 opinion of women. But are there no garrulous men ? 

 One kind of grasshopper in America seem to be par- 

 ticularly emphatic in their love-call; for they are 



