86 INSECT LIFE 



VI 



But here comes a Sphex with noisy hum, re- 

 turning from the chase. She pauses on a neigh- 

 bouring bush, holding in her mandibles one of the 

 antennae of a big cricket, weighing far more than 

 herself Tired out by the weight, she rests a 

 moment, then grasps her captive between her feet, 

 and with a supreme effort flies right across the 

 ravine between her and her abode. She alights 

 heavily on the flat ground where I am watching, in 

 the very middle of a Sphex village. The rest of the 

 journey is made on foot, the Sphex, not in the least 

 intimidated by my presence, comes astride her 

 victim, holding her head proudly aloft while she 

 drags along the cricket between her feet by one of 

 its antennae held in her jaws. If the soil be bare 

 there is no difficulty, but should a network of grass 

 spread its runners across the way, it is curious to see 

 the astonishment of the Sphex at finding her efforts 

 baffled by this little obstacle — curious to witness her 

 marches and countermarches and repeated attempts 

 until the difficulty is surmounted either by the aid 

 of her wings or a well-planned detour. The cricket 

 is at last conveyed to its destination and placed 

 so that its antennae come exactly to the mouth of 

 the burrow. Then the Sphex abandons it and 

 descends in haste to the bottom of the cave. A 

 few seconds later she puts her head out with a little 

 cry of joy. The antennae of the cricket are within 

 reach ; she seizes them and promptly conveys it 

 down to her den. 



I still ask myself in vain why these complicated 

 manoeuvres at the moment of conveying the cricket 

 into the burrow. Why, instead of going down 



