The Poplar-Weevil 
reservedly, hustling their rivals off the field 
and browsing on half the thickness of a leaf 
which becomes furrowed with bare streaks 
resembling a freakish handwriting. The 
fatigues of the workshop are preceded by 
merry-making in gay company. 
According to the rules of entomology, 
once these rejoicings are over, all should be 
quiet again and each mother should get to 
work on her cigars without further distur- 
bance. In this case the general law relents. 
I have never seen a cylinder formed without 
a male lurking in the neighbourhood; and, 
if I had the patience to wait, I should not 
fail to witness repeated pairings. ‘These 
weddings renewed for each egg puzzle me. 
Where, on the faith of the text-books, I 
looked for a single mating, I find an indefinite 
number. 
This is not an isolated instance. I will 
mention a second, which is even more strik- 
ing. It is supplied by the Capricorn (Cer- 
ambyx heros). 1 rear a few couples in 
captivity, with sliced pears for food and 
with oak billets wherein to lay the eggs. 
The pairing is continued during almost the 
whole of July. For four weeks the long- 
155 
