XV 



THE AMMOPHILA 



A SLENDER waist, a slim shape, an abdomen much 

 compressed at the upper part, and seemingly attached 

 to the body by a mere thread, a black robe with a 

 red scarf on its under parts, — such is the descrip- 

 tion of these Fossors ; like Sphegidae in form and 

 colouring, but very different in habits. The 

 Sphegidae hunt Orthoptera, crickets, ephippigers, 

 and grasshoppers, while the Ammophila chases 

 caterpillars. This difference of prey at once 

 suggests new methods in the murderous tactics of 

 instinct. 



Did not the name sound pleasant to the ear, I 

 should be inclined to quarrel with Ammophila, which 

 means sand-lover, as being too exclusive and often 

 erroneous. The true lovers of sand — dry, powdery, 

 and slippery sand — are the Bembex, which prey 

 on flies : but the caterpillar-hunters, whose history 

 I am about to tell, have no liking for pure, loose 

 sand, and even avoid it as being too subject to land- 

 slips which may be caused by a mere trifle. Their 

 vertical pits, which must remain open until the cell 

 is stored with food and an egg, require more solid 



20S 



