WASPS, SOCIAL AND SOLITARY 



In the three captures, then, that came under our ob- 

 servation, all the caterpillars being of the same species 

 and almost exactly of the same size, three different 

 methods were employed. In the first, seven stings were 

 given at the extremities, the middle segments being left 

 untouched, and no malaxation was practiced. In the 

 second, seven stings again, but given in the anterior and 

 middle segments, followed by slight malaxation. In the 

 third, only one sting was given, but the malaxation was 

 prolonged and severe. 



Let us now compare these variations with those of 

 Fabre. In his first case the sting entered at twelve dif- 

 ferent points, beginning between the first and second 

 segments and progressing regularly backward. There 

 was no malaxation. In his second example the third, 

 second, and first segments were stung in the order given, 

 and thereafter each succeeding segment up to the ninth, 

 nine stings being given in all, with careful malaxation 

 following. In his later experiments, which seem to have 

 been numerous, he found that as a usual thing all the 

 segments were stung, although the posterior three or 

 four were occasionally spared, but that the order in 

 which they were operated upon, as well as the amount 

 of malaxation, was very variable. 



Our conclusions, then, as to Ammophila's methods of 



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