70 INSECT LIFE v 



result, namely, to injure, cut, and destroy the nervous 

 system of the insect in one or more skilfully chosen 

 points. 



If the question be thus left in hands unfamiliar 

 with the secrets of a delicate anatomy it will not 

 have advanced far. What is the arrangement of 

 this nervous system which must be paralysed with- 

 out killing the insect ? First, where is it ? In the 

 head no doubt and along the back, like the brain 

 and spinal marrow in the superior animals. " A 

 grave mistake ! " our congress would reply ; the 

 insect is so to say an animal reversed, which walks 

 on its back — that is, it has the spinal marrow below 

 instead of above, all along breast and stomach ; there- 

 fore on the lower surface alone can the operation to 

 paralyse the insect be performed. 



This difficulty removed, a far graver one presents 

 itself. Armed with his scalpel, the anatomist can 

 direct its point where he will in spite of obstacles 

 which he may have to set aside. The Hymenopteron 

 has no choice. Its victim is a solidly cuirassed 

 beetle, its lancet a dart, extremely delicate, which the 

 horny mail would certainly turn aside. Only certain 

 points are vulnerable to the frail tool, namely, the 

 joints, protected simply by a membrane with no 

 power of resistance. But the joints of the limbs, 

 although vulnerable, do not in the least fulfil the 

 necessary conditions, for through these the utmost 

 that could be obtained is local paralysis, not one 

 affecting the whole organism of motion. Without 

 any prolonged struggle, without repeated operations, 

 which, if too numerous, might endanger the victim's 

 life, the Hymenopteron has, if possible, to abolish all 



