Social life in the insect world / by J. H. Fabre.

  • Jean-Henri Fabre
Date:
1912
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Social life in the insect world / by J. H. Fabre. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    exploiter of others, who fills her granaries with every edible she can find. At no time does the Cigale plead starvation at the doors of the ant-hills, faithfully promising a return of principal and interest ; the Ant, on the contrary, harassed by drought, begs of the songstress. Begs, do I say 1 Borrowing and repayment are no part of the manners of this land-pirate. She exploits the Cigale ; she impudently robs her. Let us consider this theft ; a curious point of history as yet unknown. In July, during the stifling hours of the afternoon, when the insect peoples, frantic with drought, wander hither and thither, vainly seeking to quench their thirst at the faded, exhausted flowers, the Cigale makes light of the general aridity. With her rostrum, a délicate augur, she broaches a cask of her inexhaustible store. Crouch- ing, always singing, on the twig of a suitable shrub or bush, she perforâtes the firm, glossy rind, distended by the sap which the sun has matured. Plunging her proboscis into the bung-hole, she drinks deliciously, motionless, and wrapt in méditation, abandoned to the charms of syrup and of song. Let us watch her awhile. Perhaps we shall witness unlooked-for wretchedness and want. For there are many thirsty créatures wandering hither and thither ; and at last they discover the Cigale's private well, betrayed by the oozing sap upon the brink. They gather round it, at first with a certain amount of constraint, confining themselves to lapping the extravasated liquor. I hâve seen, crowding around the honeyed perforation, wasps, Aies, earwigs, Sphinx-moths, Pompilidæ, rose- chafers, and, above ail, ants.
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