Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-06
WHEN BUGS MAKE LOVE.
Scorpions CakewaIk and Spiders
Dance Before Popping the Question.

When a man is head over heels In
love; when he is torn by jeolousy.
when hatred Of a rival possesses him.
he often becomes bug" to use an
expression rather siangy. Still, 1t Is
surprising that when an insect is
filed with love, Jealousy, or hate. il
becomes more of a bug than ever.
Prof William NJ. Wheeler, OF the
Bussey Institute, Harvard University.
has been deeply interested IN the
question, Have insects an emotional
life?' Prof Wheeler has been care
fully studying grasshoppers, crickets,
scorpions, butterflies, and many other
insects. He declares there are strong
indications that all of them feel jeal-
ousy, hate, and love, and that they
display physical courage at exactly
the proper moment Besides, some of
these small creatures are love makers
as expert as a nobleman with an old
title and without penny, who woos
nillionaire's daughter.
1t is a mistake to think that only
the higher animals have definite meth
DDS of love making said Prof.
Wheeler today The fact is that scores
of insects have really complicated
methods of attracting mates Some Of
these methods are the conVentionalities
and traditions of insect courtship.
Just as among human beings near
ly all insects seek to attract mates
either by their brilliant colors and
good looks or by some weird accom-
phshment. on the other hand, the
female in every species of insect life
affects a manner of great coyness.
Prof. Wheeler then described the
method of the scorpion beau to intro
duce himself to a lady scorpion.
The male scorpion, having gained
the attention of the female, advances
toward her with a sort OF sidewise,
hesitating walk. AS they approach,
the walk slows to very deliberate
advance. At little distance they
halt and gaze intensely into each
others eyes"
What beautiful eyes you have"
saws the the human TO the object OF
his affection. To return to tile seor-
pion
Then. still seeming to gaze intent
ly at each other, they raise tlehi-
selves vertically, and hold this posi-
ton for several minutes. After inns
introduction the scorpions take SORT
of promenade, one Of the most serious
features of the love-making program
Prof Wheeler described the wooihg
of some species of spiders:
1.-The male. having selected his BRIDE,
advances to her, gaZes at her for
moment, and then begins weird
dance. He leaps into the air. balances
himself first on his fore and then on
his rear legs, and goes through
series of antics, all of which the fe-
male regards with great complaceney.
At the end of the dance the spider ap-
proaches the female and claims her as
his bride"
Like a love-sick swain who twangs
his guitar beneath her gallery, a
cricket or a grasshopper serenades his
lady love- And cricket fights for her,
duels with his rival before her eyes
Said the professor:
Nearly always these duels are
fought in the presence of the desired
one. and in true medieval fashion.
The maiden. concealed near by, watch
es the conflict with great interest un-
til the victor cOnquers his rival and
carries her off as his mate"-Cam-
bridge Dispatch to the New York
World.