220 NOTES ON THE BETHYLI, AND 



it thus alighted, at a spot someway above the springing of 

 the stem. If, on ascending one of these twigs, it discovered 

 that it was bent the wrong way, or receded too far from the 

 cliff, it lost no time in hesitation, but stopping short of a 

 sudden, commenced the descent again. It may be guessed 

 that, dragging a gross, slimy body over twigs, &c, close to or 

 half buried in the sand, frequent impediments would occur, 

 which its extreme activity in walking indifferently, sideways 

 or backwards, and main exertion of muscular force, generally 

 enabled it to overcome ; but sometimes it had drawn its 

 burden under or between two twigs, which arrested its course: 

 after a violent tug or two without effect, it would retrace its 

 steps, dragging the larva in the opposite direction, till it was 

 extricated, then disposing it so as to keep clear of the ob- 

 stacles, start again. On every occasion when it had left its 

 hold, it made for the same part, and spent some time in 

 fastening its mandibles on the mouth of its prey beneath, so 

 that the larva should be dragged on its back: once where this 

 was not the case, it was impeded by the latter grappling with 

 its feet the twigs over which it was drawn, and its captor 

 quickly finding the error, let go and took a new hold in the 

 usual position. When it had ascended about two feet, it 

 came upon a fragment of reed partly imbedded in the sand, 

 the stem of which was broken off and open below, a few dry 

 elastic shreds of the leaf only remaining. Having reached 

 the part where these grew, it by a strong pull drew its burden 

 about half through, till its body was grasped between two 

 of these as in a vice ; then letting go, it began to explore the 

 bank on each side to some distance, tapping with its antennas 

 the conspicuous objects : in a few minutes seeming to be satis- 

 fied, it hastily descended the reed, and entered its stem at the 

 lower end ; it did not remain long in the interior, and on its 

 reappearance, set off for the spot where it had left the larva, 

 which, after pulling it out of the holdfast, it seized by the 

 mouth as usual, and began to descend the reed again ; it did 

 not complete the journey this time, but taking advantage of 

 the same kind of security to detain its prey, it repeated the 

 reconnaissance, then returning, dragged it to the opening, 

 and leaving it there, plunged in itself, but immediately 

 reappearing, drew in the larva head foremost, speedily 



