The White-faced Decticus: the Eggs 



haunts; and three months' home breeding 

 gives me no further information in this re- 

 spect. Though they lead a joyous life, my 

 captives are always dumb. 



The exiles do not seem greatly to regret 

 their cold peaks, among the orange poppies 

 and saxifrages of arctic climes. What used 

 they to browse upon up there ? The Alpine 

 meadow-grass, Mont-Cenis violets, Alli- 

 oni's bell-flower? I do not know. In the 

 absence of Alpine grasses, I give them the 

 common endive from my garden. They 

 accept it without hesitation. 



They also accept such Locusts as can offer 

 only a feeble resistance; and the diet alter- 

 nates between animal and vegetable fare. 

 They even practise cannibalism. If one of 

 my Alpine visitors limps and drags a leg, the 

 others eat him up. So far I have seen no- 

 thing striking: these are the usual Grass- 

 hopper manners.' 



The interesting sight is the pairing, which 

 occurs suddenly,' without any prelude. The 

 meeting takes place sometimes on the ground, 

 sometimes on the wirework of the cage. In 

 the latter case, the sword-bearer, firmly 

 hooked to the trellis, supports the whole 

 weight of the couple. The other is back 

 233 



