The Bull Onthophagus: the Nymph 



as is the rule among the Onthophagi. This 

 all disappears entirely in the adult insect. 



It seems likely that, if I had known how 

 to improve the occasion some years ago, 

 when I was successfully rearing the Bison 

 Onitis sent me from Montpellier, I should 

 have perceived the same armour on the 

 nymph's thorax and abdomen. Not having 

 been warned by earlier observations and 

 being anxious also to disturb the pair of 

 strangers as little as possible, I let the 

 opportunity slip. 



Let us remark lastly that the Onitis, 

 Oniticellus and Onthophagus genera all 

 three construct for the nymphosis a scaly 

 cabin whose shape suggests the cedar-cone 

 and the fruit of the alder. One may there- 

 fore admit, without being too venturesome, 

 that the various builders of similar caskets 

 are all acquainted with the nymphal panoply 

 of a horn on the corselet and a diadem of 

 eight spikes around the abdomen. This is 

 not equivalent to saying that the armour 

 determines the casket or the casket the 

 armour. These curious details go together 

 without influencing each other. 



A simple setting forth of the facts is not 



enough : we should like to see the motive 



of this horned magnificence. Is it a vague 



411 



