第5章

Iftheonehaslearntbyprolongedpracticeinattack，theothershouldalsohavelearntbyprolongedpracticeindefence，forattackanddefencepossessalikemeritinthefightforlife。Amongthetheoristsoftheday，isthereoneclear-sightedenoughtosolvetheriddleforus？

Ifso，Iwilltaketheopportunityofputtingtohimasecondproblemthatpuzzlesme:thecarelessness，nay，more，thestupidityoftheBeeinthepresenceofthePhilanthus。Youwouldbeinclinedtothinkthatthevictimofpersecution，learninggraduallyfromthemisfortunessufferedbyherfamily，wouldshowdistressattheravisher"sapproachandatleastattempttoescape。InmycagesIseenothingofthesort。Oncethefirstexcitementduetoincarcerationunderthebell-glassorthewire-gauzecoverhaspassed，theBeeseemshardlytotroubleaboutherformidableneighbour。I

seeonesidebysidewiththePhilanthusonthesamehoneyedthistle-head:

assassinandfuturevictimaredrinkingfromthesameflask。Iseesomeonewhocomesheedlesslytoenquirewhothatstrangercanbe，crouchinginwaitonthetable。Whenthespoilermakesherrush，itisusuallyataBeewhomeetsherhalf-way，and，sotospeak，flingsherselfintoherclutches，eitherthoughtlesslyoroutofcuriosity。Thereisnowildterror，nosignofanxiety，notendencytomakeoff。Howcomesitthattheexperienceoftheages，thatexperiencewhich，wearetold，teachestheanimalsomanythings，hasnottaughttheBeethefirstelementofapiarianwisdom:adeep-seatedhorrorofthePhilanthus？Canthepoorwretchtakecomfortbyrelyingonhertrustydagger？Butsheyieldstononeinherignoranceoffencing；shestabswithoutmethod，atrandom。However，letuswatchheratthesuprememomentofthekilling。

Whentheravishermakesplaywithhersting，theBeedoesthesamewithhersandfuriously。Iseetheneedlenowmovingthiswayorthatwayinspace，nowslipping，violentlycurved，alongthemurderess"convexsurface。

Thesesword-thrustshavenoseriousresults。Themannerinwhichthetwocombatantsareatgripshasthiseffect，thatthePhilanthus"abdomenisinsideandtheBee"soutside。Thelatter"sstingthereforefindsunderitspointonlythedorsalsurfaceofthefoe，aconvex，slipperysurfaceandsowellarmouredastobealmostinvulnerable。Thereisherenobreachintowhichtheweaponcanslipbyaccident；andsotheoperationisconductedwithabsolutesurgicalsafety，notwithstandingtheindignantprotestsofthepatient。

Afterthefatalstrokehasbeenadministered，themurderessremainsforalongtimebellytobellywiththedead，forreasonswhichweshallshortlyperceive。TheremaynowbesomedangerforthePhilanthus。Theattitudeofattackanddefenceisabandoned；andtheventralsurface，morevulnerablethantheother，iswithinreachofthesting。Nowthedeceasedstillretainsthereflexuseofherweaponforafewminutes，asIlearnttomycost。HavingtakentheBeetooearlyfromthebanditandhandlingherwithoutsuspectinganyrisk，Ireceivedamostdownrightsting。ThenhowdoesthePhilanthus，inherlongcontactwiththebutcheredBee，managetoprotectherselfagainstthatlancet，whichisbentuponavengingthemurder？Isthereanychanceofacommutationofthedeath-penalty？CananaccidenteverhappenintheBee"sfavour？Perhaps。

Oneincidentstrengthensmyfaithinthisperhaps。IhadplacedfourBeesandasmanyEristalesunderthebell-glassatthesametime，withtheobjectofestimatingthePhilanthus"entomologicalknowledgeinthematterofthedistinctionofspecies。Reciprocalquarrelsbreakoutinthemixedcolony。Suddenly，inthemidstofthefray，thekilleriskilled。Shetumblesoveronherback，shewavesherlegs；sheisdead。Whostrucktheblow？ItwascertainlynottheexcitablebutpacificDrone-fly；itwasoneoftheBees，whostruckhomebyaccidentduringthethickofthefight。

Whereandhow？Icannottell。Theincidentoccursonlyonceinmynotes，butitthrowsalightuponthequestion。TheBeeiscapableofwithstandingheradversary；shecanthenandthereslayherwould-beslayerwithathrustofthesting。Thatshedoesnotdefendherselftobetterpurpose，whenshefallsintoherenemy"sclutches，isduetoherignoranceoffencingandnottotheweaknessofherweapon。Andhereagainarises，moreinsistentlythanbefore，thequestionwhichIaskedabove:howisitthatthePhilanthushaslearntforoffensivewhattheBeehasnotlearntfordefensivepurposes？Iseebutoneanswertothedifficulty:theoneknowswithouthavinglearnt；theotherdoesnotknowbecausesheisincapableoflearning。

LetusnowconsiderthemotivesthatinducethePhilanthustokillherBeeinsteadofparalysingher。Whenthecrimehasbeenperpetrated，shemanipulatesherdeadvictimwithoutlettinggoofitforamoment，holdingitsbellypressedagainstherownsixlegs。Iseeherrecklessly，veryrecklessly，rootingwithhermandiblesinthearticulationoftheneck，sometimesalsointhelargerarticulationofthecorselet，behindthefirstpairoflegs，anarticulationofwhosedelicatemembranesheisperfectlywellaware，eventhough，whenusinghersting，shedidnottakeadvantageofthispoint，whichisthemostreadilyaccessibleofall。Iseeherrough-handlingtheBee"sbelly，squeezingitagainstherownabdomen，crushingitinthepress。Therecklessnessofthetreatmentisstriking；itshowsthatthereisnoneedforkeepingupprecautions。TheBeeisacorpse；andalittlehustlinghereandtherewillnotdeteriorateitsquality，providedtherebenoeffusionofblood。Inpointoffact，howeverroughthehandling，Ifailtodiscovertheslightestwound。

Thesevariousmanipulations，especiallythesqueezingoftheneck，atoncebringaboutthedesiredresults:thehoneyinthecropmountstotheBee"sthroat。Iseethetinydropsspurtout，lappedupbythegluttonassoonastheyappear。Thebanditgreedily，overandoveragain，takesthedeadinsect"slolling，sugaredtongueintohermouth；thensheoncemoredigsintotheneckandthorax，subjectingthehoney-bagtotherenewedpressureofherabdomen。Thesyrupcomesandisinstantlylappedupandlappedupagain。Inthiswaythecontentsofthecropareexhaustedinsmallmouthfuls，yieldedoneatatime。Thisodiousmealattheexpenseofacorpse"sstomachistakeninasybariticattitude；thePhilanthusliesonhersidewiththeBeebetweenherlegs。Theatrociousbanquetsometimeslastsforhalfanhourorlonger。AtlastthedrainedBeeisdiscarded，notwithoutregret，itseems，forfromtimetotimeIseethemanipulationrenewed。Aftertakingaturnroundthetopofthebell-jar，therobberofthedeadreturnstoherpreyandsqueezesit，lickingitsmouthuntilthelasttraceofhoneyhasdisappeared。

ThisfrenziedpassionofthePhilanthusfortheBee"ssyrupisdeclaredinyetanotherfashion。Whenthefirstvictimhasbeensuckeddry，Islipundertheglassasecondvictim，whichispromptlystabbedunderthechinandthensubjectedtopressuretoextractthehoney。Athirdfollowsandundergoesthesamefatewithoutsatisfyingthebandit。Iofferafourthandafifth。Theyareallaccepted。MynotesmentiononePhilanthuswhoinfrontofmyeyessacrificedsixBeesinsuccessionandsqueezedouttheircropsintheregulationmanner。Theslaughtercametoanendnotbecausethegluttonwassatedbutbecausemyfunctionsasapurveyorwerebecomingratherdifficult:thedrymonthofAugustcausestheinsectstoavoidmyharmas，whichatthisseasonisdenudedofflowers。Sixcropsemptiedoftheirhoney:whatanorgy！Andeventhentheravenouscreaturewouldverylikelynothavescornedacopiousadditionalcourse，hadIpossessedthemeansofsupplyingit！

Thereisnoreasontoregretthisbreakintheservice；thelittlethatI

havesaidismorethanenoughtoprovethesingularcharacteristicsoftheBee-slayer。IamfarfromdenyingthatthePhilanthushasanhonestmeansofearningherlivelihood；IfindherworkingontheflowersasassiduouslyastheotherWasps，peacefullydrawingherhoneyedbeakers。Themaleseven，possessingnolancet，knownoothermannerofrefreshment。Themothers，withoutneglectingthetabled"hoteoftheflowers，supportthemselvesbybrigandageaswell。WearetoldoftheSkua，thatpirateoftheseas，thatheswoopsdownuponthefishingbirds，atthemomentwhentheyrisefromthewaterwithacapture。Withablowofthebeakdeliveredinthepitofthestomachhemakesthemgiveuptheirprey，whichiscaughtbytherobberinmid-air。Thedespoiledbirdatleastgetsoffwithnothingworsethanacontusionatthebaseofthethroat。ThePhilanthus，alessscrupulouspirate，pouncesontheBee，stabshertodeathandmakesherdisgorgeinordertofeeduponherhoney。

IsayfeedandIdonotwithdrawtheword。TosupportmystatementIhavebetterreasonsthanthosesetforthabove。InthecagesinwhichvariousHuntingWasps，whosestratagemsofwarIamengagedinstudying，arewaitingtillIhaveprocuredthedesiredprey——notalwaysaneasything——I

haveplantedafewflower-spikes，athistle-headortwo，onwhichareplaceddropsofhoneyrenewedatneed。Heremycaptivescometotaketheirmeals。WiththePhilanthus，theprovisionofhoneyedflowers，thoughfavourablyreceived，isnotindispensable。IhaveonlytoletafewliveBeesintohercagefromtimetotime。Halfadozenadayisabouttheproperallowance。Withnootherfoodthanthesyrupextractedfromtheslain，Ikeepmyinsectsgoingforafortnightorthreeweeks。

Itisasplainasapikestaff:outsidemycages，whentheopportunityoffers，thePhilanthusmustalsokilltheBeeonherownaccount。TheOdynerusasksnothingfromtheChrysomelabutamerecondiment，thearomaticjuiceoftherump；theotherextractsfromhervictimanamplesupplementtohervictuals，thecropfullofhoney。WhatahecatombofBeesmustnotacolonyofthesefreebootersmakefortheirpersonalconsumption，nottomentionthestoredprovisions！IrecommendthePhilanthustothesignalvengeanceofourBee-masters。

Letusgonodeeperintothefirstcausesofthecrime。Letusacceptthingsasweknowthemforthemoment，withtheirapparentorrealatrocity。Tofeedherself，thePhilanthusleviestributeontheBee"scrop。

Havingmadesureofthis，letusconsiderthebandit"smethodmoreclosely。

ShedoesnotparalysehercaptureaccordingtotheritescustomaryamongtheHuntingWasps；shekillsit。Whykillit？Iftheeyesofourunderstandingbenotclosed，theneedforsuddendeathisclearasdaylight。ThePhilanthusproposestoobtainthehoneyedbrothwithoutrippinguptheBee，aproceedingwhichwoulddamagethegamewhenitishuntedonbehalfofthelarvae，withoutresortingtothemurderousextirpationofthecrop。Shemust，byablehandling，byskilfulpressure，maketheBeedisgorge，shemustmilkher，inamannerofspeaking。SupposetheBeestungbehindthecorseletandparalysed。Thatdeprivesherofherpoweroflocomotion，butnotofhervitality。Thedigestiveorgansinparticularretainorverynearlyretaintheirnormalenergy，asisprovedbythefrequentexcretionsthattakeplaceintheparalysedprey，solongastheintestineisnotempty，asisprovedaboveallbythevictimsoftheLanguedocianSphex(Cf。“TheHuntingWasp“:chapters8to10——Translator"sNote。)，thosehelplesscreatureswhichIusedtokeepaliveforfortydaysonendwithasoupconsistingofsugarandwater。Itisabsurdtohope，withouttherapeuticmeans，withoutaspecialemetic，tocoaxasoundstomachintoemptyingitscontents。ThestomachoftheBee，whoisjealousofhertreasure，wouldlenditselftotheprocessevenlessreadilythananother。Whenparalysed，theinsectisinert；buttherearealwaysinternalenergiesandorganicforceswhichwillnotyieldtothemanipulator"spressure。ThePhilanthuswillnibbleatthethroatandsqueezethesidesinvain:thehoneywillnotrisetothemouthsolongasavestigeoflifekeepsthecropclosed。

Thingsaredifferentwithacorpse。Thetensionisrelaxed，themusclesbecomeslack，theresistanceofthestomachceasesandthebagofhoneyisemptiedbytherobber"svigorouspressure。Yousee，therefore，thatthePhilanthusisexpresslyobligedtoinflictasuddendeath，whichwilldoawayatoncewiththeelasticityoftheorgans。Whereisthelightningstroketobedelivered？Theslayerknowsbetterthanwedo，whenshestickstheBeeunderthechin。Thecerebralgangliaarereachedthroughthelittleholeintheneckanddeathensuesimmediately。

Therelationoftheseactsofbrigandagecannotsatisfymydistressinghabitoffollowingeachreplyobtainedwithafreshquestion，untilthegranitewalloftheunknowablerisesbeforeme。IfthePhilanthusisanexpertinkillingBeesandemptyingcropsswollenwithhoney，thiscannotbemerelyanalimentaryresource，especiallywhen，incommonwiththeothers，shehasthebanqueting-halloftheflowers。Icannotacceptheratrocioustalentasinspiredmerelybythecravingforafeastobtainedattheexpenseofanemptystomach。Somethingcertainlyescapesus:thewhyandwhereforeofthatcropdraineddry。AcreditablemotivemayliehiddenbehindthehorrorswhichIhaverelated。Whatisit？

Anyonecanunderstandthevaguenessoftheobserver"smindwhenhefirstaskshimselfthisquestion。Thereaderisentitledtobetreatedwithconsideration。Iwillsparehimtherecitalofmysuspicions，mygropingsandmyfailuresandwillcomestraighttotheresultsofmylonginvestigation。Everythinghasitsharmoniousreasonforexistence。IamtoofullypersuadedofthistobelievethatthePhilanthuspursuesherhabitofprofaningcorpsessolelytosatisfyhergreed。Whatdoestheemptiedcropportend？Mayitnotbethat……？Why，yes……Afterall，whoknows？……Letustryalongtheselines。

Themother"sfirstcareisthewelfareofthefamily。Sofar，wehaveseenthePhilanthushuntingonlyforherstomach"ssake；letuswatchherhuntingasamother。Nothingiseasierthantodistinguishthetwoperformances。WhentheWaspwantsafewgoodmouthfulsandnothingmore，shescornfullyabandonstheBeeafterpickinghercrop。TheBeeistoheraworthlessremnant，whichwillshrivelwhereitliesandbedissectedbytheAnts。If，ontheotherhand，shewantstostowawaytheBeeasaprovisionforherlarvae，sheclaspsherinhertwointermediatelegsand，walkingontheotherfour，goesroundandroundtheedgeofthebell-glass，seekingforanoutletthroughwhichtoflyoffwithherprey。Whensherecognizesthecirculartrackasimpossible，sheclimbsupthesides，thistimeholdingtheBeebytheantennaewithhermandiblesandclingingtothepolishedandperpendicularsurfacewithhersixfeet。Shereachesthetopoftheglass，staysforalittlewhileinthehollowoftheknobatthetop，returnstotheground，resumeshercirclingandherclimbinganddoesnotdecidetorelinquishherBeeuntilshehasstubbornlyattemptedeverymeansofescape。ThispersistenceonherparttoretainherholdonthecumbrousburdentellsusprettyplainlythatthegamewouldgostraighttothecellsifthePhilanthushadherliberty。

Well，theseBeesintendedforthelarvaearestungunderthechinliketheothers；theyarerealcorpses；theyaremanipulated，squeezed，drainedoftheirhoneyexactlyastheothersare。Inalltheserespects，thereisnodifferencebetweenthehuntconductedtoprovidefoodforthelarvaeandthehuntconductedmerelytogratifythemother"sappetite。

Astheworriesofcaptivitymightwellbethecauseofafewanomaliesintheinsect"sactions，IfeltthatIoughttoenquirehowthingshappenintheopen。IlayinwaitnearsomecoloniesofPhilanthi，forlongerperhapsthanthequestiondeserved，asithadalreadybeensettledbywhathadhappenedunderglass。Mytediouswatcheswererewardedfromtimetotime。

Mostofthehuntressesreturnedhomeimmediately，withtheBeeundertheirabdomen；somehaltedonthebrambleshardby；andhereIsawthemsqueezingthedeadBeeandmakingherdisgorgethehoney，whichwasgreedilylappedup。Afterthesepreliminariesthecorpsewasstored。Everydoubtisthereforeremoved:theprovisionsofthelarvaarefirstcarefullydrainedoftheirhoney。

Sinceweareonthespot，letusprolongourstayandenquireintothecustomsofthePhilanthusinastateofliberty。Servingdeadprey，whichgoesbadinafewdays，theBee-huntresscannotadoptthemethodofcertaininsectswhichparalyseanumberofseparateheadsofgameandfillthecellwithprovisions，completingtherationbeforelayingtheegg。SheneedsthemethodoftheBembex，whoselarvareceivesthenecessarynourishmentatintervals，asitgrowslarger。Thefactsconfirmthisdeduction。JustnowI

describedastediousmywatchesnearthecoloniesofthePhilanthi。Theyweretediousinfact，evenmoresoperhapsthanthosewhichtheBembecesusedtoinflictuponmeintheolddays。OutsidetheburrowsoftheGreatCercerisandotherWeevil-lovers，outsidethoseoftheYellow-wingedSphex，theCricket-slayer，thereisplentyofdistraction，thankstothebustlingmovementofthehamlet。Themotherhashardlycomebackhomebeforeshegoesoutagain，soonreturningladenwithanewpreyandoncemoresettingoutuponthechase。Thegoingandcomingisrepeatedatcloseintervalsuntilthewarehouseisfull。

TheburrowofthePhilanthusisfarfromshowinganysuchanimation，eveninapopulouscolony。Invainweremywatchesprolongedforwholemorningsorafternoons；itwasbutveryrarelythatthemotherwhomIhadseengoinwithaBeecameoutagainforasecondexpedition。TwocapturesatmostbythesamehuntresswasallthatIwasabletoseeduringmylongvigils。

Feedingfromdaytodayinvolvesthisdeliberation。Oncethefamilyissuppliedwithasufficientrationforthemoment，themothersuspendsherhunting-tripsuntilfurtherneedarisesandoccupiesherselfwithmining-

workinherundergroundhouse。Cellsaredug；Iseetherubbishgraduallypusheduptothesurface。Beyondthisthereisnotasignofactivity；itisasthoughtheburrowweredeserted。

Theinspectionofthesiteisnoeasymatter。Theshaftdescendstoadepthofnearlythreefeetinacompactsoil，eitherverticallyorhorizontally。

Thespadeandpick，wieldedbystrongerbutlessexperthandsthanmine，areindispensable，forwhichreasontheprocessofexcavationisfarfromsatisfyingmefully。Attheendofthislongtunnel，whichthestrawwhichIuseforsoundingdespairsofeverreaching，thecellsareatlastencountered，ovalcavitieswithahorizontalmajoraxis。Theirnumberandgeneralarrangementescapeme。

Someofthemalreadycontainthecocoon，whichisslenderandsemitransparent，likethoseoftheCerceris，and，likethem，suggeststheshapeofcertainhomoeopathicphials，withovalbelliessurmountedbyataperingneck。Thecocoonisfastenedtotheendofthecellbythetipofthisneck，whichisdarkenedandhardenedbythelarva"sexcrement；ithasnoothersupport。Itlookslikeashortclubfixedbytheendofthehandlealongthehorizontalaxisofthenest。Othercellscontainthelarvainamoreorlessadvancedstage。Thegrubismunchingthelastmorselservedtoit，withthescrapsofthevictualsalreadyconsumedlyingaroundit。

OtherslastlyshowmeaBee，oneonly，stilluntouchedandbearinganegglaidonherbreast。Thisisthefirstpartialration；theotherswillcomeasandwhenthegrubgrowslarger。Myanticipationsarethusconfirmed:

followingtheexampleoftheBembeces，theFly-killers，thePhilanthus，theBee-killer，layshereggonthefirstpiecewarehousedandatintervalsaddstohernurselings"repast。

Theproblemofthedeadgameissolved。Thereremainsthisotherproblem，oneofincomparableinterest:whyaretheBeesrobbedoftheirhoneybeforebeingservedtothelarvae？IhavesaidandIsayagainthatthekillingandsqueezingcannotbeexplainedandexcusedsimplybyreferencetothePhilanthus"loveofgormandizing。Robbingtheworkerofherbootyisnothingoutoftheway:weseeitdaily；butcuttingherthroatinordertoemptyherstomachisgoingbeyondajoke。And，astheBeespackedawayinthecellararesqueezeddryjustasmuchastheothers，thethoughtoccurstomymindthatarumpsteakwithjamisnottoeverybody"slikingandthatthegamestuffedwithhoneymightwellbeadistastefulorevenunwholesomedishforthePhilanthus"larvae。Whatwillthegrubdowhen，satedwithbloodandmeat，itfindstheBee"shoney-bagunderitsmandiblesandespeciallywhen，nibblingatrandom，itripsopenthecropandspoilsitsvenisonwithsyrup？Willitthriveonthemixture？Willthelittleogrepasswithoutrepugnancefromthegamyflavourofacarcasetothescentofflowers？Abluntstatementordenialwouldservenopurpose。Wemustsee。

Letussee。

IrearsomeyoungPhilanthus-grubs，alreadywaxinglarge；but，insteadofsupplyingthemwiththepreytakenfromtheburrows，Igivethemgameofmyowncatching，gamerepletewithnectarfromtherosemaries。MyBees，whomI

killbycrushingtheirheads，arereadilyaccepted；andIatfirstseenothingthatcorrespondswithmysuspicions。Thenmynurselingslanguish，disdaintheirfood，giveacarelessbitehereandthereandendbyperishing，fromthefirsttothelast，besidetheirunfinishedvictuals。

Allmyattemptsmiscarry:Idonotoncesucceedinrearingmylarvaetothestageofspinningthecocoon。AndyetIamnonoviceinthefunctionsofafoster-father。Howmanypupilshavenotpassedthroughmyhandsandreachedmaturityinmyoldsardine-boxesascomfortablyasintheirnaturalburrows！

Iwillnotdrawrashconclusionsfromthischeck；Iamconscientiousenoughtoascribeittoanothercause。Itmaybethattheatmosphereofmystudyandthedrynessofthesandservingasabedhavehadabadeffectonmycharges，whosetenderskinsareaccustomedtothewarmmoistureofthesubsoil。Letusthereforetryanotherexpedient。

ItishardlyfeasibletodecidepositivelybythemethodswhichIhavebeenfollowingwhetherthehoneyisorisnotrepugnanttothegrubsofthePhilanthus。Thefirstmouthfulsconsistofmeat；andthennothingparticularoccurs:itisthenaturaldiet。Thehoneyismetwithlater，whenthemorselhasbeenlargelybitteninto。Ifhesitationandlackofappetitearedisplayedatthisstage，theycometoolateinthedaytobeconclusive:thelarva"sdiscomfortmaybeduetoother，knownorunknown，causes。Thethingtodowouldbetoofferthegrubhoneyfromthefirst，beforeartificialrearinghasaffecteditsappetite。Itisuseless，ofcourse，tomaketheattemptwithpurehoney:nocarnivorouscreaturewouldtouchit，thoughitwerestarving。Thejam-sandwichistheonlydevicefavourabletomyplans，ameagrejam-sandwich，thatistosay，thedeadBeelightlysmearedorvarnishedwithhoneybymeansofacamel"s-hairpencil。

Undertheseconditions，theproblemissolvedwiththefirstfewmouthfuls。

Thegrubthathasbittenintothehoneyedpreydrawsbackindisgust，hesitatesalongtimeandthen，urgedbyhunger，beginsagain，triesthissideandthatandendsbyrefusingtotouchthedish。Forafewdaysitpinesawayontopofitsalmostintactprovisions；thenitdies。Allthataresubjectedtothisregimensuccumb。Dotheymerelyperishofinanitioninthepresenceofanunaccustomedfood，whichrevoltstheirappetite，oraretheypoisonedbythesmallquantityofhoneyabsorbedwiththeearlymouthfuls？Icannottell。Thefactremainsthat，whetherpoisonousorrepugnant，theBeeinthestateofbreadandjamisdeathtothem；andthisresultexplains，moreclearlythantheunfavourablecircumstanceofmyformerexperiment，myfailureswiththeBeethathadnotbeenmadetodisgorge。

ThisrefusaltotouchtheunwholesomeordistastefulhoneyisconnectedwithprinciplesofnutritionwhicharetoogeneraltoconstituteagastronomicpeculiarityofthePhilanthus。Theothercarnivorouslarvae，atleastintheorderoftheHymenoptera，areboundtoshareit。Letustry。

Wewillgotoworkasbefore。Iunearththelarvaewhentheyhaveattainedamediumsize，toavoidtheweaknessofinfancy；Itakeawaythenaturalprovisions，smearthecarcasesseparatelywithhoneyand，whenthisisdone，restoreitsvictualstoeachofthegrubs。Ihadtomakeachoice:

noteverysubjectwasequallysuitedtomyexperiments。Imustrejectthelarvaewhicharefedononefatjoint，suchasthoseoftheScolia。Thegrubinfactattacksitspreyatadeterminedpoint，dipsitsheadandneckintotheinsect"sbody，rootingskilfullyintheentrailstokeepthegamefreshuntiltheendofthemeal，anddoesnotwithdrawfromthebreachuntilthewholeskinisemptiedofitscontents。

Tomakeitletgowiththeobjectofcoatingtheinsideofthevenisonwithhoneyhadtwodrawbacks:Ishouldbecompromisingthelingeringvitalitywhichsavestheinsectthatisbeingdevouredfromgoingbadand，atthesametime，Ishouldbedisturbingthedelicateartofthedevouringinsect，which，ifremovedfromthelodewhichitwasworking，wouldnolongerbeabletorecoveritortodistinguishbetweenthelawfulandtheunlawfulmorsels。ThelarvaoftheScolia，consumingitsCetonia-grub，hastaughtusallthatwewanttoknowonthissubjectinmyearliervolume。(Chapters2

to5ofthepresentvolumecontainthewholeofthematterreferredtoabove——Translator"sNote。)Theonlyacceptablelarvaearethosesuppliedwithaheapofsmallinsects，whichareattackedwithoutanyspecialart，dismemberedatrandomandeatenupquickly。AmongtheseIhavetestedsuchaschancethrewinmyway:thoseofvariousBembeces，allfedonFlies，thoseofthePalarus，whosebilloffareconsistsofaverylargeassortmentofHymenoptera；thoseoftheTarsalTachytes，suppliedwithyoungLocusts；thoseoftheNest-buildingOdynerus，furnishedwithChrysomela-grubs；thoseoftheSandCerceris，endowedwithapinchofWeevils。Agoodlyvariety，asyousee，ofconsumersandconsumed。Well，toallofthesetheseasoningwithhoneyprovedfatal。Whetherpoisonedordisgusted，theyalldiedinafewdays。

Astrangeresultindeed！Honey，thenectaroftheflowers，thesoledietoftheBee-tribeinbothitsformsandthesoleresourceoftheWaspinheraadultform，istothelarvaeofthelatteranobjectofinsurmountablerepugnanceandprobablyatoxicdish。Eventhetransformationofthenymphosissurprisesmelessthanthisinversionoftheappetite。Whathappensintheinsect"sstomachtomaketheadultseekpassionatelywhattheyoungsterrefusedlestitshoulddie？Thisisnotaquestionoforganicdebilityunabletoendureatoosubstantial，toohard，toohighlyspiceddish。ThegrubthatgnawstheCetonia-larva，thatgenerouspieceofbutcher"smeat；thegluttonthatcrunchesitsbatchoftoughLocusts；theonethatbattensonnitrobenzine-flavouredgame:theycertainlyownunfastidiousgulletsandaccommodatingstomachs。Andtheserobusteatersallowthemselvestodieofhungerordigestivetroublesbecauseofadropofsyrup，thelightestfoodimaginable，suitedtotheweaknessofextremeyouthandafeastfortheadultbesides！Whatagulfofobscurityinthestomachofawretchedgrub！

Thesegastronomicalresearchescalledforacounterexperiment。Thecarnivorouslarvaiskilledbyhoney。Conversely，isthemellivorouslarvakilledbyanimalfood？Reservationsareneedfulhere，asintheprevioustests。WeshouldbecourtingaflatrefusalifweofferedapinchofLocuststothelarvaeoftheAnthophoraortheOsmia，forinstance。(ForboththeseWildBeescf。“Bramble-beesandOthers“:passim——Translator"sNote。)Thehoney-fedinsectwouldnotbiteintoit。Therewouldbenousewhateverintrying。Wemustfindtheequivalentofthejam-sandwichaforesaid；inotherwords，wemustgivethelarvaitsnaturalfarewithamixtureofanimalfood。Theadditionmadebymyartificesshallbealbumen，asfoundintheeggoftheHen，albumentheisomeroffibrin，whichistheessentialfactorinanyformofprey。

Ontheotherhand，theThree-hornedOsmialendsherselfmostadmirablytomyplans，becauseofherdryhoney，consistingforthegreaterpartofflourypollen。Ithereforekneadthishoneywithalbumen，graduatingthedoseuntilitsweightlargelyexceedsthatoftheflour。InthiswayI

obtainpastesofdifferentdegreesofconsistency，butallfirmenoughtobearthelarvawithoutdangerofimmersion。Withtoofluidamixturetherewouldbeariskofdeathbydrowning。LastlyIinstallamoderately-

developedlarvaoneachofmyalbuminouscakes。

Thedishofmyinventingdoesnotincitedislike:farfromit。Thegrubsattackitwithouthesitationandconsumeitwitheveryappearanceoftheusualappetite。Thingscouldnotgobetterifthefoodhadnotbeenalteredbymyculinaryrecipes。Everythinggoesdown，includingthemorselsinwhichIfearedthatIhadoverdonetheadditionofalbumen。And——anevenmoreimportantpoint——theOsmia-larvaefedinthismannerattaintheirnormaldimensionsandspintheircocoons，fromwhichadultinsectsissueinthefollowingyear。Notwithstandingthealbuminousregimen，thecycleoftheevolutionisachievedwithoutimpediment。

Whatarewetoconcludefromallthis？Ifeelgreatlyembarrassed。Omnevivumexovo，thephysiologiststellus。Everyanimaliscarnivorous，initsfirstbeginnings:itisformedandnourishedatthecostofitsegg，inwhichalbumenpredominates。Thehighest，themammal，adherestothisdietforalongtime:ithasitsmother"smilk，richincasein，anotherisomerofalbumen。Thegramnivorousnestlingisfirstfedongrubs，whicharebetteradaptedtothenicetiesofitsstomach；manyoftheminutestnew-

borncreatures，beingatoncelefttotheirowndevices，taketoanimalfood。Inthiswaytheoriginalmethodofnourishmentiscontinuedforallalike:themethodwhichallowsfleshtobemadefromfleshandbloodfromblood，withnochemicalprocessbeyondthesimplestmodification。Atmaturity，whenthestomachhasacquireditsfullstrength，vegetablefoodisadopted，involvingamorecomplicatedchemistrybuteasiertoobtain。

Milkisfollowedbyfodder，wormsbyseeds，thepreyintheburrowbythenectaroftheflowers。

ThissuppliesapartialexplanationofthetwofolddietoftheHymenopterawithcarnivorouslarvae:meatfirst，honeynext。Butthenthenoteofinterrogationisshifted。Itstoodelsewhere；itnowstandshere。WhyistheOsmia，whoasalarvafaressowellonalbumen，fedonhoneyatthestart？WhydotheBee-tribereceiveavegetabledietwhentheothermembersoftheorderreceiveananimaldiet？

IfIwereabelieverinevolution，Ishouldsayyes，bythefactofitsgerm，everyanimalisoriginallycarnivorous。Theinsectinparticularstartswithalbuminoidmaterials。Manylarvaeadheretotheegg-food，manyadultinsectsdolikewise。Butthestruggletofillthebelly，whichafterallisthestruggleforlife，demandssomethingbetterthantheprecarioushazardsofthechase。Man，atfirstaravenoushunteraftergame，broughttheflockintoexistenceandturnedshepherdtoavoidatimeofdearth。Anevengreaterprogressinspiredhimtoscrapetheearthandtosowseed，whichassureshimofaliving。Theevolutionfromscarcitytomoderationandfrommoderationtoplentyhasledtotheresourcesofhusbandry。

Theanimalsforestalledusthispathofprogress。TheancestorsofthePhilanthus，intheremoteagesofthelacustriantertiaryformations，livedbypreyinboththelarvalandtheadultforms:theyhuntedforthemselvesaswellasforthefamily。TheydidnotconfinethemselvestoemptyingtheBee"scrop，astheirdescendantsdotothisday:theydevouredthedeceased。Fromthebeginningtotheendtheyremainedflesh-eaters。Later，fortunateinnovators，whoseracesupplantedthelaggards，discoveredaninexhaustiblenourishment，obtainedwithoutdangerousconflictsorlaborioussearch:thesugarysecretionsoftheflowers。Thecostlyhabitoflivingonprey，whichdoesnotfavourlargepopulations，wasmaintainedforthefeeblelarvae；butthevigorousadultbrokeherselfofittoleadaneasierandmoreprosperouslife。Thus，gradually，wasformedthePhilanthusofourday；thuswasacquiredthetwofolddietofthevariouspredatoryinsectsourcontemporaries。

TheBeehasdonebetterstill:fromthemomentofleavingtheeggshedeliveredherselfcompletelyfromfood-stuffstheacquisitionofwhichdependedonchance。Shediscoveredhoney，thegrubs"food。Renouncingthechaseforeverandbecominganagriculturalistpureandsimple，theinsectattainsadegreeofphysicalandmoralprosperitywhichthepredatoryspeciesarefarfromsharing。HencetheflourishingcoloniesoftheAnthophorae，theOsmiae，theEucerae(Agenusoflong-hornedBurrowingBees——Translator"sNote。)，theHalictiandotherhoney-manufacturers，whereasthepredatoryinsectsworkinisolation；hencethesocietiesinwhichtheBeedisplaysherwonderfultendencies，thesupremeexpressionofinstinct。

ThisiswhatIshouldsayifIbelongedtothatschool。Itallformsachainofverylogicaldeductionsandproffersitselfwithacertainairoflikelihoodwhichweshouldbegladtofindinahostofevolutionistargumentsputforwardasirrefutable。Well，Iwillmakeapresentofmydeductiveviews，withoutregret，towhoevercarestohavethem:Idon"tbelieveonewordofthem；andIconfessmyprofoundignoranceoftheoriginofthetwofolddiet。

WhatIdounderstandmoreclearly，afteralltheseinvestigations，isthetacticsofthePhilanthus。Whenwitnessingherferociousfeasting，therealreasonofwhichwasunknowntome，Iheapedthemostill-soundingepithetsuponher，callingheramurderess，abandit，apirate，arobberofthedead。Ignoranceisalwaysevil-tongued；themanwhodoesnotknowindulgesinrudeassertionsandmischievousinterpretations。Nowthatmyeyeshavebeenopenedtothefacts，IhastentoapologizeandtorestorethePhilanthustoherplaceinmyesteem。IndrainingthecropsofherBeesthemotherisperformingthemostpraiseworthyofallactions:sheisprotectingherfamilyagainstpoison。Ifshehappenstokillonherownaccountandtoabandonthecorpseaftermakingitdisgorge，Idarenotreckonthisagainstherasacrime。WhenthehabithasbeenformedofemptyingtheBee"scropwithagoodmotive，thereisagreattemptationtodoitagainwithnootherexcusethanhunger。Besides，whoknows？Perhapsthereisalwaysatthebackofherhuntingsomethoughtofgamewhichmightbeusefulforthelarvae。Althoughnotcarriedintoeffect，theintentionexcusesthedeed。

Ithereforewithdrawmyepithetsinordertoadmiretheinsect"smaternallogicandtoholdituptotheadmirationofothers。Thehoneywouldbepernicioustothehealthofthelarvae。Howdoesthemotherknowthatthesyrup，atreatforher，isunwholesomeforheryoung？Tothisquestionourscienceoffersnoreply。Thehoney，Isay，wouldimperilthegrubs"lives，TheBeemustthereforefirstbemadetodisgorge。Thedisgorgingmustbeeffectedwithoutlaceratingthevictim，whichthenurselingmustreceiveinthefreshstate；andtheoperationisimpracticableonaparalysedinsectbecauseoftheresistanceofthestomach。TheBeemustthereforebekilledoutrightinsteadofbeingparalysed，orthehoneywillnotbevoided。

Instantaneousdeathcanbeinflictedonlybywoundingtheprimordialcentreoflife。Thestingmustthereforeaimatthecervicalganglia，theseatofinnervationonwhichtherestoftheorganismdepends。Toreachthemthereisonlyoneway，throughthelittlegapinthethroat。Itisherethereforethatthestingmustbeinserted；anditishereinfactthatitisinserted，inaspothardlyaslargeasthetwenty-fifthofaninchsquare。

Suppressasinglelinkofthiscompactchain，andtheBee-fedPhilanthusbecomesimpossible。

Thathoneyisfataltocarnivorouslarvaeisafactwhichteemswithconsequences。SeveralHuntingWaspsfeedtheirfamiliesuponBees。Theseinclude，tomyknowledge，theCrownedPhilanthus(P。coronatus，FAB。)，wholinesherburrowswithbigHalicti；theRobberPhilanthus(P。raptor，LEP。)，whochasesallthesmaller-sizedHalicti，suitedtoherowndimensions，indifferently；theOrnateCerceris(C。ornata，FAB。)，anotherpassionateloverofHalicti；andthePalarus(P。flavipes，FAB。)，who，withacuriouseclecticism，stacksinhercellsthegreaterpartoftheHymenopteronclanthatdoesnotexceedherpowers。Whatdothesefourhuntressesandtheothersofsimilarhabitsdowiththeirvictimswhosecropsaremoreorlessswollenwithhoney？TheymustfollowtheexampleoftheBee-eatingPhilanthusandmakethemdisgorge，lesttheirfamilyperishofahoneyeddiet；theymustmanipulatethedeadBee，squeezeheranddrainherdry。Everythinggoestoshowit。Ileaveittothefuturetodisplaythesedazzlingproofsofmydoctrineintheirproperlight。

CHAPTER11。THEMETHODOFTHEAMMOPHILAE。(FortheseSand-wasps，cf。“TheHuntingWasps“:chapters13and18to20——Translator"sNote。)

Myreadersmaydifferinappraisingthecomparativevalueofthetriflingdiscoverieswhichentomologyowestomylabours。Thegeologist，therecorderofforms，willpreferthehypermetamorphosisoftheOil-beetles(ThechaptertreatingofthissubjecthasnotyetbeentranslatedintoEnglishandwillappearinalatervolume——Translator"sNote。)，thedevelopmentoftheAnthrax(Cf。“TheLifeoftheFly“:chapter2——

Translator"sNote。)orlarvaldimorphism；theembryogenist，searchingintothemysteriesoftheegg，willhavesomeesteemformyenquiriesintotheegg-layinghabitsoftheOsmia(Cf。“Bramble-beesandOthers“:chapter4——

Translator"sNote。)；thephilosopher，rackinghisbrainoverthenatureofinstinct，willawardthepalmtotheoperationsoftheHuntingWasps。I

agreewiththephilosopher。Withouthesitation，Iwouldabandonalltherestofmyentomologicalbaggageforthisdiscovery，whichhappenstobetheearliestindateandthatofwhichIhavethefondestmemories。NowheredoIfindamorebrilliant，morelucid，moreeloquentproofoftheintuitivewisdomofinstinct；nowheredoesthetheoryofevolutionsufferamoreobstinatecheck。

Darwin，atruejudge，madenomistakeaboutit。(CharlesRobertDarwin，bornthe12thofFebruary，1809，atShrewsbury，diedatDown，inKent，onthe19thofApril，1882。Foranaccountofcertainexperimentswhichtheauthorconductedonhisbehalf，cf。“TheMason-bees“:chapter4——

Translator"sNote。)Hegreatlydreadedtheproblemoftheinstincts。Myfirstresultsinparticularlefthimveryanxious。IfhehadknownthetacticsoftheHairyAmmophila，theMantis-huntingTachytes，theBee-eatingPhilanthus，theCalicurgiandothermarauders，hisanxiety，Ibelieve，wouldhaveendedinafrankadmissionthathewasunabletosqueezeinstinctintothemouldofhisformula。Alas，thephilosopherofDownquittedthisworldwhenthediscussion，withexperimentstosupportit，hadbarelybegun:amethodsuperiortoanyargument！ThelittlethatIhadpublishedatthattimelefthimwithstillsomehopeofanexplanation。Inhiseyes，instinctwasalwaysanacquiredhabit。ThepredatoryWaspskilledtheirpreyatfirstbystabbingitatrandom，hereandthere，inthesoftestparts。Bydegreestheyfoundthespotwherethestingwasmosteffectual；andthehabitonceformedbecameatrueinstinct。Transitionsfromonemethodofoperationtotheother，intermediarychanges，sufficedtobolsterupthesesweepingassertions。Inaletterofthe16thofApril，1881，heasksG。J。Romanestoconsidertheproblem:

“Idonotknow，“hesays“whetheryouwilldiscussinyourbookonthemindofanimalsanyofthemorecomplexandwonderfulinstincts。Itisunsatisfactorywork，astherecanbenofossilisedinstincts，andthesoleguideistheirstateinothermembersofthesameorder，andmerePROBABILITY。

“Butifyoudodiscussany(anditwillperhapsbeexpectedofyou)，I

shouldthinkthatyoucouldnotselectabettercasethanthatofthesand-

waspswhichparalysetheirpreyasdescribedbyFabreinhiswonderfulpaperinthe“Analesdessciencesnaturelles，“andsinceamplifiedinhisadmirable“Souvenirs……“

Ithankyou，Oillustriousmaster，foryoureulogisticexpressions，provingthekeeninterestwhichyoutookinmystudiesofinstinct，noungratefultask——farfromit——whenwetackleitasitshouldbetackled:fromthefront，withtheaidoffacts，andnotfromtheflank，withtheaidofarguments。Argumentsarehereoutofplace，ifwewishtomaintainourpositioninthelight。Besides，wherewouldtheyleadus？Toevokingtheinstinctsofbygoneages，whichhavenotbeenpreservedbyfossilization？

Anysuchappealtothedimanddistantpastisquiteunnecessary，ifwewishforvariationsofinstinct，leadingbydegrees，accordingtoyou，fromoneinstincttoanother；thepresentworldoffersusplenty。

Eachoperatorhasherparticularmethod，herparticularkindofgame，herparticularpointsofattackandtricksoffence；butinthemidstofthisvarietyoftalentsweobserve，immutableandpredominant，theperfectaccordanceofthesurgerywiththevictim"sorganizationandthelarva"sneeds。Theartofonewillnotexplaintheartofanother，nolessexactinthedelicacyofitsrules。Eachoperatorhasherowntactics，whichtoleratenoapprenticeship。TheAmmophila，theScolia，thePhilanthusandtheothersalltellusthesamething:nonecanleavedescendantsifshebenotfromtheoutsettheskilfulparalyserorslayerthatsheisto-day。The“almost“isimpracticablewhenthefutureoftheraceisatstake。Whatwouldhavebecomeofthefirst-bornmammalbutforitsperfectinstinctofsuckling？

Andthen，tosupposetheimpossible:aWaspdiscoversbychancetheoperativemethodwhichwillbethesavingattributeofherrace。Howarewetoadmitthatthisfortuitousact，towhichthemotherhasvouchsafednomoreattentionthantoherotherlessfortunateattempts，couldleaveaprofoundtracebehinditandbefaithfullytransmittedbyheredity？Isitnotgoingbeyondreason，goingbeyondthelittlethatisknowntousascertain，ifwegranttoatavismthisstrangepower，ofwhichourpresentworldknowsnoinstance？Thereisagooddealtobesaidforthispointofview，myreveredmaster！But，oncemore，argumentsarehereoutofplace；

thereisroomonlyforfacts，ofwhichIwillresumetherecital。

HithertoIhadbutonemeansofstudyingtheoperativemethodsofthespoilers:tosurprisetheWaspinpossessionofhercapture，torobherofherpreyandimmediatelytogiveherinexchangeasimilarprey，butalivingone。Thismethodofsubstitutionisanexcellentexpedient。Itsonlydefect——averygraveone——isthatitsubjectsobservationtoveryuncertainchances。Thereislittleprospectofmeetingtheinsectdraggingitsvictimalong；and，inthesecondplace，shouldgoodfortunesuddenlysmileuponyou，preoccupiedasyouarewithothermattersyouhavenotthesubstituteathand。Ifweprovideourselveswiththenecessaryheadofgameinadvance，thehuntressisnotthere。Weavoidonereeftofounderonanother。Moreover，theseunlookedforobservations，madesometimesonthepublichighway，theworstoflaboratories，areonlyhalf-satisfactory。Inthecaseofswiftly-enactedscenes，whichitisnotinourpowertorenewagainandagainuntilperfectconvictionisreached，wealwaysfearlestwemaynothaveseenaccurately，maynothaveseeneverything。

Amethodwhichcouldbecontrolledatwillwouldofferthebestguarantees，aboveallifemployedathome，undercomfortableconditions，favourabletoprecision。Iwished，therefore，toseemyinsectsatworkontheactualtableatwhichIamwritingtheirhistory。Hereveryfewoftheirsecretswouldescapeme。Thiswishofminewasanoldone。Asabeginner，ImadesomeexperimentsunderglasswiththeGreatCerceris(C。tuberculata)andtheYellow-wingedSphex。Neitherofthemrespondedtomydesires。TherefusalofeachtoattackrespectivelyherCleonusorherCricketdiscouragedfurtherprogressinthisdirection。Iwaswrongtoabandonmyattemptssosoon。Now，verylongafterwards，theideaoccurstometoplaceunderglasstheBee-eatingPhilanthus，whomIsometimessurpriseintheopenengagedinforcingabeetodisgorgeherhoney。Thecaptivemassacresherbeesinsuchaspiritedfashionthattheoldhoperevivesstrongerthanever。Icontemplatereviewingallthewieldersofthestilettoandforcingeachtorevealhertactics。

Iwasobligedtoabatetheseambitionsconsiderably。Ihadsomesuccessesandmanymorefailures。Iwilltellyouoftheformer。Myinsect-cageisaspaciousdomeofwire-gauzerestingonabedofsand。HereIkeepinreservethecaptivesofmyhunting-expeditions。Ifeedthemonhoney，placedinlittledropsonspikesoflavender，onheadsofthistle，orfielderyngo，orglobe-thistle，accordingtotheseason。Mostofmyprisonersdowellonthisdietandseemscarcelyaffectedbytheirinternment；otherspineawayanddieintwoorthreedays。Thesevictimsofdespairnearlyalwaysthrowmeback，becauseofthedifficultyofobtainingthenecessarypreyatshortnotice。

Indeeditentailsnosmalltroubletosecureinthenickoftimethegamedemandedbythehuntresswhohasrecentlyfallenacaptivetomynet。Asassistant-purveyorsIhaveafewsmallschoolboys，who，releasedfromthetediumoftheirdeclensionsandconjugations，setout，onleavingtheclassroom，toinspectthegreenswardsandbeatthebushesintheneighbourhoodonmybehalf。Thegrossou，thepenny-piece，ifyouplease，stimulatestheirzeal；butwithmisadventurousresults！WhatIneedto-dayisCrickets。ThebandsalliesforthandreturnswithnotasingleCricket，butnumbersofEphippigers，forwhichIaskedthedaybeforeyesterdayandwhichInolongerneed，myLanguedocianSphexbeingdead。Generalsurpriseatthissuddenchangeofmarket。Myyoungscatterbrainsfindithardtounderstandthatthebeastwhichwassoprecioustwodaysagoisnowofnovaluewhatever。When，owingtothechancesofmynet，areneweddemandfortheEphippigersetsin，thentheywillbringmetheCricket，thedespisedCricket。

Suchatradecouldneverholdoutifnowandagainmyspeculatorswerenotencouragedbysomesuccess。Atthemomentwhenurgentnecessityissendingupprices，oneofthembringsmeamagnificentGad-flyintendedfortheBembex。Fortwohours，whenthesunwasatitsheight，hekeptwatchonthethreshing-floorhardby，waitingfortheblood-sucker，inordertocatchhimonthebuttocksoftheMuleswhichtrotroundandroundtramplingthecorn。Thisgallantfellowshallhavehisgrossouandasliceofbreadandjamaswell。Asecond，nolessfortunate，hasfoundafatSpider，theEpeira，forwhommyPompiliarewaiting。TothetwosousofthisfortunateyouthIaddalittlepictureforhismissal。Thusaremypurveyorskeptgoing；and，afterall，theirhelpwouldbeveryinadequateifIdidnottakeuponmyselfthemainburdenofthesewearisomequests。

Onceinpossessionoftherequisiteprey，Itransferthehuntressfrommywarehouse，thewire-gauzecage，toabell-glassvaryingincapacityfromonetothreeorfourlitres(13/4to5or7pints——Translator"sNote。)，accordingtothesizeandhabitsofthecombatants；Iplacethevictiminthearena；Iexposethebell-glasstothedirectraysofthesun，withoutwhichconditiontheexecutionerasaruledeclinestooperate；Iarmmyselfwithpatienceandawaitevents。

WewillbeginwiththeHairyAmmophila，myneighbour。Yearafteryear，whenAprilcomes，Iseeherinconsiderablenumbers，verybusyonthepathsinmyenclosure。UntilJuneIseeherdiggingherburrowsandsearchingfortheGreyWorm，tobeplacedinthemeat-cellar。HertacticsarethemostcomplexthatIknowandmorethananyotherdeservestobethoroughlystudied。Tocapturethecunningvivisector，toreleaseherandcatchheragainIfindaneasymatterforthebestpartofamonth；sheworksoutsidemydoor。

IhavestilltoobtaintheGreyWorm。ThismeansarepetitionofthedisappointmentswhichIhadbefore，when，tofindacaterpillar，IwasobligedtowatchtheAmmophilawhilehuntingandtobeguidedbyherhints，asthetruffle-hunterisguidedbythescentofhisDog。Apatientexplorationoftheharmas，onetuftofthymeafteranother，doesnotgivemeasingleworm。Myrivalsinthissearcharefindingtheirgameateverymoment；Icannotfinditevenonce。Yetonemorereasonforbowingtothesuperiorityoftheinsectinthemanagementofheraffairs。Mybandofschoolboysgettoworkinthesurroundingfields。Nothing，alwaysnothing！

Iinmyturnexploretheouterworld；andfortendaysthepursuitofacaterpillartormentsmetillIlosemypowerofsleep。Then，atlast，victory！Atthefootofasunnywall，underthebuddingrosettesofthepanicledcentaury，IfindafairsupplyofthepreciousGreyWormoritsequivalent。

BeholdthewormandtheAmmophilafacetofacebeneaththebell-glass。

Usuallytheattackispromptenough。Thecaterpillarisgrabbedbytheneckwiththemandibles，wide，curvedpincerscapableofembracingthegreaterpartofthelivingcylinder。Thecreaturethusseizedtwistsandturnsandsometimes，withablowofitstail，sendstheassailantrollingtoadistance。Thelatterisunconcernedandthrustsherstingthriceinrapidsuccessionintothethorax，beginningwiththethirdsegmentandendingwiththefirst，wheretheweaponisdrivenhomewithgreaterdeterminationthanelsewhere。

Thecaterpillaristhenreleased。TheAmmophilastampsontheground；withherquiveringtarsishetapsthecardboardonwhichthebell-glassstands；

sheliesdownflat，dragsherselfalong，getsupagain，flattensherselfoncemore。Thewingsjerkconvulsively。Fromtimetotimetheinsectplacesitsmandiblesandforeheadontheground，thenrearshighuponitshind-

legsasthoughtoturnheadoverheels。InallthisIseeamanifestationofdelight。Werubourhandswhenrejoicingatasuccess；theAmmophilaiscelebratinghertriumphoverthemonsterinherownfashion。Duringthisfitofdeliriousjoy，whatisthewoundedcaterpillardoing？Itcannolongerwalk；butallthepartbehindthethoraxstrugglesviolently，curlinganduncurlingwhentheAmmophilasetsafootuponit。Themandiblesopenandshutmenacingly。

SECONDACT——Whentheoperationisresumed，thecaterpillarisseizedbytheback。Fromfronttorear，inorder，allthesegmentsarestungontheventralsurface，exceptthethreeoperatedon。Allseriousdangerisavertedbythestabsofthefirstact；therefore，theWaspisnowabletoworkuponherpatientwithoutthehastedisplayedattheoutset。

Deliberatelyandmethodicallyshedrivesinherlancet，withdrawsit，selectsthespot，stabsitandbeginsagain，passingfromsegmenttosegment，takingcare，eachtime，tolayholdofthebackalittlemoretotherear，inordertobringthesegmenttobeparalysedwithinreachoftheneedle。Forthesecondtime，thecaterpillarisreleased。Itisabsolutelyinert，exceptthemandibles，whicharestillcapableofbiting。

THIRDACT——TheAmmophilaclaspstheparalysedvictimbetweenherlegs；

withthehooksofhermandiblessheseizesthebackofitsneck，atthebaseofthefirstthoracicsegment。Fornearlytenminutesshemunchesthisweakspot，whichliesclosetothecerebralnerve-centres。Thepincerssqueezesuddenlybutatintervalsandmethodically，asthoughthemanipulatorwishedeachtimetojudgeoftheeffectproduced；thesqueezesarerepeateduntilIamtiredoftryingtocountthem。Whentheycease，thecaterpillar"smandiblesaremotionless。Thencomesthetransportationofthecarcase，adetailwhichisnotrelevantinthisplace。

Ihavesetforththecompletetragedy，asitisfairlyoftenenacted，butnotalways。Theinsectisnotamachine，unvaryingintheeffectofitsmechanism；itisallowedacertainlatitude，enablingittocopewiththeeventualitiesofthemoment。AnyoneexpectingtoseetheincidentsofthestruggleunfoldingthemselvesexactlyasIhavedescribedwillriskdisappointment。Specialinstancesoccur——theyareevennumerous——whicharemoreorlessatvariancewiththegeneralrule。Itwillbewelltomentionthemoreimportant，inordertoputfutureobserversontheirguard。

Notinfrequentlythefirstact，thatofparalysingthethorax，isrestrictedtotwothrustsofthestinginsteadofthree，oreventoone，whichisthendeliveredintheforemostsegment。This，itwouldseem，fromthepersistencywithwhichtheAmmophilainflictsit，isthemostimportantprickofall。Isitunreasonabletosupposethattheoperator，whenshebeginsbyprickingthethorax，intendstosubduehercaptureandtomakeitincapableofinjuringher，orevenofdisturbingherwhenthemomentcomesforthedelicateandprotractedsurgeryofthesecondact？Thisideaseemstomehighlyadmissible；andthen，insteadofthreedagger-thrusts，whynottwoonly，whynotmerelyone，ifthiswouldsufficeforthetimebeing？Theamountofvigourdisplayedbythecaterpillarmustbetakenintoconsideration。Bethisasitmay，thesegmentssparedinthefirstactarestabbedinthesecond。Ihavesometimesevenseenthethreethoracicsegmentsstungtwiceover:atthebeginningoftheattackandagainwhentheWaspreturnedtohervanquishedprey。

TheAmmophila"striumphanttransportsbesideherwoundedandwrithingvictimarealsosubjecttoexceptions。Sometimes，withoutreleasingitspreyforamoment，theinsectproceedsfromthethoraxtothenextsegmentsandcompletesitsoperationinasinglespell。Thejoyousentr"actedoesnottakeplace；theconvulsivemovementsofthewingsandtheacrobaticposturesaresuppressed。

Theruleisparalysisofallthesegments，howevermany，inregularorderfromfronttoback，includingeventheanalsegmentifthisboastoflegs。

Byafairlyfrequentexceptionthelasttwoorthreesegmentsarespared。

Anotherexception，butaveryrareone，ofwhichIhaveobservedonlyasingleinstance，consistsintheinversionofthedagger-thrustsofthesecondact，thethrustsbeingdeliveredfrombacktofront。Thecaterpillaristhenseizedbyitshinderextremity；andtheAmmophila，progressingtowardsthehead，stingsinreverseorder，passingfromthesucceedingtotheprecedingsegment，includingthethoraxalreadystabbed。ThisreversaloftheusualtacticsIaminclinedtoattributetonegligenceontheinsect"spart。Negligenceornot，theinvertedmethodhasthesamefinalresultasthedirectmethod:theparalysisofallthesegments。

Lastly，thecompressionoftheneckbythemandibularypincers，themunchingoftheweakspotbetweenthebaseoftheskullandthefirstsegmentofthethorax，issometimespractisedandsometimesneglected。Ifthecaterpillar"sjawsopenandthreaten，theAmmophilastillsthembybitingtheneck；iftheyarealreadygrowingquiescent，sherefrains。

Withoutbeingindispensable，thisoperationisusefulatthemomentofcartingtheprey。Thecaterpillar，tooheavytobecarriedonthewing，isdragged，headfirst，betweentheAmmophila"slegs。Ifthemandiblesareworking，theleastclumsinessmayrenderthemdangeroustothecarrier，whoisexposedtotheirbitewithoutanymeansofdefence。

Moreover，onceontheway，thicketsofgrassaretraversedinwhichtheGreyWormcanseizeabladeandofferadesperateresistancetothetraction。Noristhisall。TheAmmophiladoesnotasaruletroubleaboutherburrow，oratleastdoesnotcompleteit，untilshehascaughthercaterpillar。Duringthemining-operations，thegameislaidsomewherehighup，outofreachoftheAnts，onsometuftofgrass，orthetwigsofashrub，whitherthehuntress，fromtimetotime，stoppingherwell-sinking，hastenstoseeifherquarryisstillthere。Forherthisisameansofrefreshinghermemoryofthespotwhereshehaslaidit，oftenatsomedistancefromtheburrow，andofpreventingattemptsatrobbery。Whenthemomentcomesforremovingthegamefromitshiding-place，thedifficultywouldbeinsurmountableweretheworm，grippingtheshrubwithallthemightofitsjaws，toanchoritselfthere。Henceinertiaofthepowerfulhooks，whicharetheparalysedcreature"ssolemeansofresistance，becomesessentialduringthecarting。TheAmmophilaobtainsitbycompressingthecerebralganglia，bymunchingtheneck。Theinertiaistemporary；itwearsoffsoonerorlater；butbythistimethecarcaseisinthecellandtheegg，prudentlylaidatadistanceontheventralsurfaceoftheworm，hasnothingtofearfromthecaterpillar"sgrapnels。NocomparisonispermissiblebetweenthemethodicalsqueezesoftheAmmophilabenumbingthecephalicnerve-centresandthebrutalmanipulationsofthePhilanthusemptyingthecropofherBee。ThehuntressofGreyWormsinducesatemporarytorporofthemandibles；theravisherofBeesmakesthemejecttheirhoney。Noonegiftedwiththeleastperspicacitywillconfoundthetwooperations。

ForthemomentwewillnotdwellanylongeronthemethodoftheHairyAmmophila；wewillseeinsteadhowherkinswomenbehave。AfterprotractedrefusalstheSandyAmmophila(A。sabulosa，FAB。)，onwhomIexperimentedinSeptember，endedbyacceptingtheprofferedprey，apowerfulcaterpillarasthickasalead-pencil。ThesurgicalmethoddidnotdifferfromthatemployedbytheHairyAmmophilawhenoperatingonherGreyWorminonespell。Allthesegments，exceptingthelastthree，werestungfromfronttoback，beginningwiththeprothorax。Thissinglesuccesswithasimplifiedmethodleftmeinignoranceoftheaccessorymanoeuvres，whichIdonotdoubtmustmoreorlesscloselyrecallthoseoftheprecedingspecies。

Iamallthemoreinclinedtoacceptthesesecondarymanoeuvres，notasyetrecorded——thetransportsoftriumphandthecompressionsoftheneck——

inasmuchasIseethempractisedupontheLoopercaterpillars，whichdiffersogreatlyfromtheothersinexternalstructure，exactlyasIhavedescribedtheminthecaseoftheGreyWorm，whichisoftheordinaryform。

Twospecies，theSilkyAmmophila(A。holoserica，FAB。)andJules"Ammophila(Seeinthefirstvolumeofthe“Souvenirsentomologiques“whatImeanbythisdenomination——Author"sNote。)，affectthiscuriousprey，whichmoveswiththestrideofapairofcompasses。Thefirst，oftenrenewedunderglassduringthegreaterpartofAugust，hasalwaysrefusedmyoffers；thesecond，hercontemporary，has，onthecontrary，promptlyacceptedthem。

IpresentJules"Ammophilawithaslender，brownishLooperwhichIcaughtonthejasmine。Theattackisnotslowincoming。Thecaterpillarisgrabbedbytheneck:livelycontortionsofthevictim，whichrollstheaggressoroveranddragsheralong，nowuppermost，nowundermostinthestruggle。Firstthethoraxisstung，initsthreerings，frombacktofront。Thestinglingerslongestnearthethroat，inthefirstsegment。

Thisdone，theAmmophilareleaseshervictimandproceedstostamphertarsi，topolishherwings，tostretchherself。AgainIobservetheacrobaticpostures，theforeheadtouchingtheground，thehinderpartofthebodyraised。ThismimictriumphisthesameasthatofthehuntressoftheGreyWorm。ThentheLooperisoncemoreseized。Despiteitscontortions，whicharenotintheleastabatedbythethreewoundsinthethorax，itisstungfromfronttobackineachsegmentstillunwounded，nomatterhowmany，whethersuppliedwithlegsornot。Iexpectedtoseethestingrefrainmoreorlessinthelongintervalwhichseparatesthetruelegsinfrontfromthepro-legsattheback(Fleshylegsfoundontheabdominalsegmentsofcaterpillarsandcertainotherlarvae——Translator"sNote。):segmentsdevoidoforgansofdefenceorlocomotiondidnotseemtometodeserveconscientioussurgery。Iwasmistaken:notasegmentoftheLooperisspared，noteventhelastones。Itistruethatthese，beingeminentlycapableofcatchingholdwiththeirfalselegs，wouldbedangerouslaterweretheWasptoneglectthem。

Iobserve，however，thatthelancetworksmorerapidlyinthesecondpartoftheoperationthaninthefirst，eitherbecausethecaterpillar，halfsubjugatedbythetriplewoundattheoutset，iseasiertoreachwiththesting，orbecausethesegmentsmoreremotefromtheheadarerenderedharmlesswithasmallerinjectionofpoison。Nowheredoweseerepeatedthecareexpendeduponparalysingthethorax，stilllesstheinsistentattentiontothefirstsegment。OnreturningtoherLooperaftertheentr"actedevotedtothejoysofsuccess，theAmmophilastabssoswiftlythat，ononeoccasion，Isawherobligedtobeginalloveragain。Lightlystungalongitswholelength，thevictimstillstruggles。Withouthesitation，theoperatorunsheathesherscalpelforthesecondtimeandoperatesontheLooperafresh，withtheexceptionofthethorax，whichwasalreadysufficientlyanaesthetized。Thisdone，allisinorder；thereisnomoremovement。

Afterthestilettothehooksofthemandiblesrarelyfailtointervene。

Longandcurved，theynibbleattheparalysedvictim"sneck，sometimesfromabove，sometimesfrombelow。ItisarepetitionofwhattheHairyAmmophilashowedus:thesamesuddensqueezesofthepincers，withratherlongintervalsbetween。Theseintervals，thesemeasuredbitesandtheinsect"swatchfulattitudehaveeveryappearanceoftellingusthattheoperatorisnotingtheeffectproducedbeforegivingafreshpinchofthenippers。

ItwillbeseenhowvaluableistheevidenceofJules"Ammophila:ittellsusthattheimmolatersofLoopercaterpillarsandthoseofordinarycaterpillarsfollowpreciselythesamemethod；thatvictimsdisplayingverydissimilarexternalstructuredonotentailanymodificationoftheoperativetacticssolongastheinternalorganizationremainsthesame。

Thenumber，arrangementanddegreeofmutualindependenceofthenerve-

centresguidethesting；theanatomyofthegame，ratherthanitsform，controlsthehuntress"tactics。

Letmemention，beforeIdismissthesubject，asuperbexampleofthismarvellousanatomicaldiscrimination。IoncetookfrombetweenthelegsofaHairyAmmophila，whichhadjustparalysedit，acaterpillarofDicranuravinula。Whatastrangecapturecomparedwiththeordinarycaterpillar！

Bridlinginthickfoldsbeneathitspinkneckerchief，itsfore-partraisedinasphinx-likeattitude，itshinder-partslowlywavingtwolongcaudalthreads，thecuriousanimalisnocaterpillartotheschoolboywhobringsittome，nortothemanwhocomesuponitwhilecuttinghisbundleofosiers；butitisacaterpillartotheAmmophila，whotreatsitaccordingly。Iexplorethequeercreature"ssegmentswiththepointofaneedle。Allareinsensitive；allthereforehavebeenstung。

CHAPTER12。THEMETHODOFTHESCOLIAE。

AftertheAmmophilae，theparalyserswhomultiplytheirlancet-thruststodestroytheinfluenceofthevariousnerve-centres，exceptingthoseofthehead，itseemedadvisabletointerrogateotherinsectswhichalsoareaccustomedtoanakedprey，vulnerableatallpointssavethehead，butwhichdeliveronlyasinglethrustofthesting。OfthesetwoconditionstheScoliaefulfilledone，withtheirregularquarry，thetenderCetonia-，Oryctes-orAnoxia-larva，accordingtotheScolia"sspecies。Didtheyfulfilthesecond？Iwasconvincedbeforehandthattheydid。Fromtheanatomyofthevictims，withtheirconcentratednervoussystem，Iforesaw，whencompilingmyhistoryoftheScoliae，thatthestingwouldbeunsheathedonceonly；Ievenmentionedtheexactspotintowhichtheweaponwouldbeplunged。

Thesewereassertionsdictatedbytheanatomist"sscalpel，withouttheslightestdirectproofderivedfromobservedfacts。Manoeuvresexecutedundergroundescapedtheeye，asitseemedtomethattheymustalwaysdo。

HowindeedcouldIhopethatacreaturewhoseartispractisedinthedarknessofaheapofmouldwoulddecidetoworkinbroaddaylight？Ididnotreckonuponitall。Nevertheless，tosalvemyconscience，ItriedbringingtheScoliaintocontactwithherpreyunderthebell-glass。Iwaswell-advisedtodoso，formysuccesswasininverseratiotomyhopes。

NexttothePhilanthus，noneoftheHuntingWaspsdisplayedsuchardourinattackingunderartificialconditions。Alltheinsectsexperimentedupon，somesooner，somelater，rewardedmeformypatience。LetuswatchtheTwo-

bandedScolia(S。bifasciata，VANDERLIND)operatingonherCetoniagrub。

Theincarceratedlarvastrivestoescapeitsterribleneighbour。Lyingonitsback，itfiercelywendsitswayroundandroundtheglasscircus。

PresentlytheScolia"sattentionawakensandisbetrayedbyacontinuedtappingwiththetipsoftheantennaeuponthetable，whichnowrepresentstheaccustomedsoil。TheWaspattacksthegame，deliveringherassaultuponthemonster"shinderend。SheclimbsupontheCetonia-grub，obtainingapurchasewiththetipofherabdomen。Thequarrymerelytravelsthemorequicklyonitsback，withoutcoilingitselfintoadefensiveposture。TheScoliareachesthefore-part，withtumblesandotheraccidentswhichvarygreatlywiththeamountoftolerancedisplayedbythelarva，herimprovisedsteed。Withhermandiblesshenipsapointofthethorax，ontheuppersurface；sheplacesherselfathwartthebeast，archesherselfandmakeseveryefforttoreachwiththeendofherabdomentheregionintowhichthestingistobedriven。Thearchisalittletoonarrowtoembracealmostthewholecircumferenceofhercorpulentprey；andsherenewsherattemptsandeffortsforalongtime。Thetipofthebellytrieseveryconceivableexpedient，touchinghere，thereandeverywhere，butasyetstoppingnowhere。Thispersistentsearchinitselfdemonstratestheimportancewhichtheparalyserattachestothepointatwhichherlancetistopenetratetheflesh。

Meanwhile，thelarvacontinuestomovealongonitsback。Suddenlyitcurlsup；withastrokeofitsheadithurlstheenemytoadistance。

Undiscouragedbyallherset-backs，theWasppicksherselfup，brushesherwingsandresumesherattackuponthecolossus，almostalwaysbymountingthelarva"shinderend。Atlastafterallthesefruitlessattempts，theScoliasucceedsinachievingthecorrectposition。SheisseatedathwarttheCetonia-grub；themandiblesgripapointonthedorsalsurfaceofthethorax；thebody，bentintoabow，passesunderthelarvaandwiththetipofthebellyreachestheregionoftheneck。TheCetonia-grub，placedinseriousperil，writhes，coilsanduncoilsitself，spinningrounduponitsaxis。TheScoliadoesnotinterfere。Holdingthevictimtightlygripped，sheturnswithit，allowsherselftobedraggedupwards，downwards，sidewards，followingitscontortions。HerobstinacyissuchthatIcannowremovethebell-glassandfollowthedetailsofthedramaintheopen。

Briefly，inspiteoftheturmoil，thetipoftheabdomenfeelsthattherightspothasbeenfound。Thenandonlythenthestingisunsheathed。Itplungesin。Thethingisdone。Thelarva，atfirstplumpandactive，suddenlybecomesflaccidandinert。Itisparalysed。Henceforththerearenomovementssaveoftheantennaeandthemouthparts，whichwillforalongtimeyetbearwitnesstoaremnantoflife。Thepointwoundedhasnevervariedintheseriesofcombatsunderglass:itoccupiesthemiddleofthelineofdemarcationbetweentheprothoraxandthemesothorax，ontheventralsurface。NotethattheCerceres，operatingonWeevils，whosenervoussystemisascompactastheCetonia-grub"s，driveintheneedleatthesamespot。Similarityofnervousorganizationoccasionssimilarityofmethod。NotealsothattheScolia"sstingremainsinthewoundforsometimeandrootsaboutwithmarkedpersistence。Judgingbythemovementsofthetipoftheabdomen，onewouldcertainlysaythattheweaponisexploringandselecting。Freetoshiftinonedirectionortheother，withinnarrowlimits，itspointismostprobablyseekingforthelittlemassofnerve-tissuewhichmustbepricked，oratleastsprinkledwithpoison，toobtainoverwhelmingparalysis。

Iwillnotclosethisreportoftheduelwithoutrelatingafewfurtherfacts，ofminorimportance。TheTwo-bandedScoliaisafiercepersecutoroftheCetonia。Inonesittingthesamemotherstabsthreelarvae，oneaftertheother，infrontofmyeyes。Sherefusesthefourth，perhapsowingtofatigueortoexhaustionofthepoison-bag。Herrefusalisonlytemporary。

Nextday，shebeginsagainandparalysestwogrubs；thedayafterthat，shedoesthesame，butwithazealthatdecreasesfromdaytoday。

TheotherHuntingWaspsthatpursuethechasefarafieldgrip，drag，carrytheirprey，afterdeprivingitofmovement，eachinherownfashionand，ladenwiththeirburden，makeprolongedattemptstoescapefromthebell-

glassandtogaintheburrow。Discouragedbythesefutileendeavours，theyabandonthematlast。TheScoliadoesnotremoveherquarry，whichliesonitsbackforanindefinitetimeontheactualspotofthesacrifice。Whenshehaswithdrawnherdaggerfromthewound，sheleaveshervictimwhereitliesand，withouttakingfurthernoticeofit，beginstoflutteragainstthesideoftheglass。Theparalysedcarcaseisnottransportedelsewhere，intoaspecialcellar；therewherethestrugglehasoccurreditreceives，uponitsextendedabdomen，theeggwhencetheconsumerofthesucculenttit-bitwillemerge，thussavingtheexpenseofsettinguphouse。Itgoeswithoutsayingthatunderthebell-glassthelayingdoesnottakeplace:

themotheristoocautioustoabandonhereggtotheperilsoftheopenair。

Whythen，recognizingtheabsenceofherundergroundburrow，doestheScoliauselesslypursuetheCetoniawiththefranticardourofthePhilanthusflingingherselfupontheBee？TheactionofthePhilanthusisexplainedbyherpassionforhoney；hencethemurderscommittedinexcessoftheneedsofherfamily。TheScolialeavesusperplexed:shetakesnothingfromtheCetonia-grub，whichisleftwithoutanegg；shestabs，thoughwellawareoftheuselessnessofheraction:theheapofmouldislackinganditisnothercustomtotransportherprey。Theotherprisoners，oncetheblowisstruck，atleastseektoescapewiththeircapturebetweentheirlegs；theScoliaattemptsnothing。

Afterduereflection，Ilumptogetherinmysuspicionsallthesesurgeonsandaskmyselfwhethertheypossesstheslightestforesight，wheretheeggisconcerned。When，exhaustedbytheirburden，theyrecognizetheimpossibilityofescape，themoreexpertamongthemoughtnottobeginalloveragain；yettheydosobeginafewminuteslater。Thesewonderfulanatomistsknowabsolutelynothingaboutanything，theydonotevenknowwhattheirvictimsaregoodfor。Admirableartistsinkillingandparalysis，theykillorparalyseateveryfavourableopportunity，nomatterwhatthefinalresultasregardstheegg。Theirtalent，whichleavesoursciencespeechless，hasnotashadowofconsciousnessofthetaskaccomplished。

Aseconddetailstrikesme:thedesperatepersistenceoftheScolia。Ihaveseenthestrugglecontinueformorethanaquarterofanhour，withfrequentalternationsofgoodluckandbad，beforetheWaspachievedtherequiredpositionandreachedwiththeendofherabdomenthespotwherethestingshouldpenetrate。Duringtheseassaults，whichwereresumedassoonastheywererepulsed，theaggressorrepeatedlyappliedthetipofherbellytothelarva，butwithoutunsheathing，asIcouldseebytheabsenceofthestartwhichthelarvagiveswhenitfeelsthepainofthesting。TheScoliathereforedoesnotpricktheCetoniaanywhereuntiltheweaponcoverstherequisitespot。Ifnowoundsareinflictedelsewhere，thisisnotinanywayduetothestructureofthelarva，whichissoftandvulnerableallover，exceptinthehead。Thepointsoughtbythestingisnomoreunprotectedthananyotherpartoftheskin。

Inthescuffle，theScolia，curvedintoabow，issometimesseizedbythevice-likegripoftheCetonia-grub，whichisviolentlycoilinganduncoiling。Heedlessofthepowerfulgrip，theWaspdoesnotletgoforamoment，eitherwithhermandiblesorwiththetipofherabdomen。Atsuchtimesthetwocreatures，lockedinamutualembrace，turnoverandoverinamadwhirl，eachofthemnowontop，nowunderneath。Whenitcontrivestoriditselfofitsenemy，thelarvauncoilsagain，stretchesitselfoutandproceedstomakeoffuponitsbackwithallpossiblespeed。Itsdefensiverusesareexhausted。Formerly，beforeIhadseenthingsformyself，takingprobabilityasmyguideIwillinglygrantedtothelarvathetrickoftheHedgehog，whorollshimselfintoaballandsetstheDogatdefiance。

Coileduponitself，withanenergywhichmyfingershavesomedifficultyinovercoming，thelarva，Ithought，woulddefytheScolia，powerlesstounrollitanddisdaininganypointbuttheoneselected。Ihopedandbelievedthatitpossessedthismeansofdefence，ameansbothefficaciousandextremelysimple。Ihadpresumedtoomuchuponitsingenuity。InsteadofimitatingtheHedgehogandremainingcontracted，itflees，bellyinair；

itfoolishlyadoptstheveryposturewhichallowstheScoliatomounttotheassaultandtoreachthespotforthefatalstroke。ThesillybeastremindsmeofthegiddyBeewhocomesandflingsherselfintotheclutchesofthePhilanthus。Yetanotherwhohaslearntnolessonfromthestruggleforlife。

Letusproceedtofurtherexamples。IhavejustcapturedanInterruptedScolia(Colpainterrupta，LATR。)，exploringthesand，doubtlessinsearchofgame。Itisamatterofmakingtheearliestpossibleuseofher，beforeherspiritischilledbythetediumofcaptivity。Iknowherprey，thelarvaofAnoxiaaustralis(TheAnoxiaareagenusofBeetlesakintotheCockchafers——Translator"sNote。)；Iknow，frommypastexcavations，thepointsfavouredbythegrub:themoundsofsandheapedupbythewindatthefootoftherosemariesontheneighbouringhill-sides。Itwillbeahardjobtofindit，fornothingisrarerthanthecommonifonewantsitthenandthere。Iappealforassistancetomyfather，anoldmanofninety，stillstraightasacapitalI。Underasunhotenoughtobroilanegg，wesetoff，shoulderinganavvy"sshovelandathree-prongedluchet。(ThelocalpitchforkofsouthernFrance——Translator"sNote。)Employingourfeebleenergiesinturns，wedigatrenchinthesandwhereIhopetofindtheAnoxia。Myhopesarenotdisappointed。Afterhavingbythesweatofourbrow——neverwastheexpressionmorejustified——removedandsiftedtwocubicyardsatleastofsandysoilwithourfingers，wefindourselvesinpossessionoftwolarvae。IfIhadnotwantedany，Ishouldhaveturnedthemupbythehandful。Butmypoorandcostlyharvestissufficientforthemoment。To-morrowIwillsendmorevigorousarmstocontinuetheworkofexcavation。