Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-03-12

purposes of strategy. Anyway they
register anger, and glare at each other
from a distance Of few inches apart.
Then they come on. headed backwards
as uy.Iai, steering by their eyer. which
are conveniently placed TO facilitate a
rear end advance. After the collision,
the contest In. like any other battle,
merely question 6 endurance and
strength, with a few points for tech
nique.
one strange discovery which we
have been able to make by close at
tendance at doodle bug duels Is the
language Of the fight. We have ex-
plained that only when he is lighting
or eating does the doodle bug come in
to contact with other creatures.
Naturally then, his language is apt TO
be- crude. little more perhaps than
system of grunts, groans and chuckies.
But we are sure, from our observation.
that his speech is organized to this
extent at least
When we understand the language
more fully. we may be able to translate
the remarks the doodle makes. His
conversation In not intalligibe TO the
human ear unassistsd, but with
ponyer-fua machine which fntensiffes
sound we have been able TO catch an
occasional tone which convinces US
that the doodle bug carries on run
ming fire conversation while nehtins.
in osder Ia annoy the other fellow.
We are not at present prepared to
state what the doodle bug talks with
| as he has no mouth. only throat. II
| fs quite possible therefore-we would
! even 20 no far as to concede that II
| is probable--that this insect of the
/ family myrmeleonidae talks with some
| part of his body other than the mouth.
In the next afternoon we are able to
devote to this absorbing study we hope
/ to clear this fine point and give II
/ prominence In special volume on
doodle bugs we have known their
lives and conversations.
In concluding these observations we
wish to say a word In defense Of the
| doodle He Is a cannibal. we admit,
-but he has one endearing charm-he
is tractihle. inofrensive sort of fellow
80 far as humans go. Children Ike TO
find doodle bug holes and poke straw
down them. saying doodle bug, doodle
ing come to the fair. or come TO the
fire. or any other suitable invitation
on hearing this the doodle signifies
ais good will by clutching the straw
uN BtiDWlnb niftaSei " bs pHbso NNs
for inspection.
There in another game that You can
play with the doodle. and that ts t.
poke at him with straw and say
/ doodle bug, doodle bug. 20 home. and
he will draw I'm his mandibles and re
tire to a lower level. kicking a shower
Of sand as he goes.
There have been people who held
that the doodle is apt to go as c
come no matter what is said TO him
We reply TO this attack on his char.
acter bv saying that evidently the doc.
die did not understand these persons
probably they did not talk distinctly
enough During our entire period q
intensive study Of his life and habits
We have at all times been able to es
tahlish satisfactory and amicable com
nunication with the lighting doodle.
The main points 70 remember abou
this important specimen of American
insect life the doodle. are that he ~ ar
insectivorous fossorial type. varyins
between the fulisinous and the fuscou'
in appearance. and singulary pugna
cious in character. His powers as al
entertainer are indisputable. The only
question is whether he IL small enough
to escape the attention of the Interna
tional Reform Bureau.