The White-faced Decticus: his Habits 



It is quite clear that this persistent singing 

 has not an amorous appeal for its object: 

 by this time, all of that is over, quite over. 

 Lastly, one day or another, life fails and the 

 instrument is dumb. The eager singer is no 

 more. The survivor gives him a funeral 

 copied from that of the Decticus : she de- 

 vours the best bits of him. She loved him 

 so much that she had to eat him up. 



These cannibal habits recur in most of the 

 Grasshopper tribe, without however equal- 

 ling the atrocities of the Praying Mantis, 

 who treats her lovers as dead game while 

 they are still full of life. The Decticus 

 mother, the Green Grasshopper and the rest 

 at least wait until the poor wretches are dead. 



I will except the Ephippiger, who is so meek 

 in appearance. In my cage, when laying-time 

 is at hand, she has no scruples about taking 

 a bite at her companions, without possessing 

 the excuse of hunger. Most of the males end 

 in this lamentable fashion, half-devoured. 

 The mutilated victim protests; he would 

 rather, he could indeed go on living. Having 

 no other means of defence, he produces with 

 his bow a few grating sounds which this time 

 decidedly are not a nuptial song. Dying 

 with a great hole in his belly, he utters his 

 229 



