XI THE SCIENCE OF INSTINCT 147 



preparations made is all but useless, so sparsely are 

 these solitary insects scattered. Moreover, if you do 

 meet with one, it will probably be during her idle 

 hour when nothing is to be learned. I repeat that 

 it is almost always unexpectedly, when you are not 

 thinking about it, that the Sphex appears with her 

 ephippiger. This is the moment — the one propitious 

 moment — to attempt a substitution of prey and to 

 induce her to let you witness those dagger thrusts. 

 Let us hasten ; time presses ; in a few moments 

 the burrow will have enclosed the provender, and the 

 grand chance will be lost. 



Need I speak of my mortification in these 

 promising moments — a mocking lure offered by 

 fortune ! Under my eyes is matter for curious 

 observations, and I cannot profit by it ! I cannot 

 steal the Sphex's secret, for I have no equivalent to 

 offer for her prey. Just try, if you like, to go about 

 looking for an ephippiger when there are but a few 

 minutes to find it in ! Why, it took me three days 

 of wild search before I could find weevils for my 

 Cerceris ! Yet twice did I make that desperate 

 attempt. Ah ! if the garde-champetre had caught me 

 then rushing about the vineyards, what a chance he 

 would have had to believe me guilty of theft, and 

 of reporting me ! Vines and grapes — nothing was 

 respected by my hurried steps, fettered by the vine 

 garlands. I must and would have an ephippiger, 

 and have it then and there. And once I did find 

 one during one of these rapid expeditions. I beamed 

 with joy, little foreseeing the bitter disappointment 

 awaiting me. 



If only I can come in time ! if only the Sphex is 



