644 Reflexes, Instincts, and Intelligence 



dit in ambush on her path must be known to the Sphex, for she leaves her 

 game and runs bravely at the Mantis to administer some sharp blows and 

 dislodge, or at all events, alarm and inspire it with respect. It does not 

 move, but closes its deadly weapons — the two terrible saws of the arm and 

 forearm. The Sphex returns to her prey, harnesses herself to the antennas, 

 and passes audaciously under the blade of grass where the Mantis sits. From 

 the direction of her head one can see that she is on her guard, and is holding 

 the enemy motionless under her threatening eyes. Such courage is duly 

 rewarded; the prey is stored without further misadventure." 



The author introduces a digression here and then proceeds: "We return 

 to the Sphex, with whose burrow we must make acquaintance before going 

 further. It is made of fine sand, or rather in the fine dust at the bottom of 

 a natural shelter. Its passage is very short — an inch or two without a turn, 

 leading into a single spacious oval chamlier, and all is a rude, hastily made 

 den, rather than a dwelling hollowed with art and leisure. I have already 

 said that the captured prey, left for a brief moment or two where it was 

 hunted, is the cause of the simplicity of this abode and of there being but 

 one chamber or cell to each hollow. For who can say whither the chances 

 of the day's hunt may lead ? The dwelling must be near the heavy prey, 

 and to-day's abode, too far od to admit of carrying the second ephippiger 

 there, cannot be used to-morrow. Thus each time prey is caught there 

 must be new digging out — a new burrow with its one cell, now here, now 

 there. Now let us try some experiments to see how the insect behaves amid 

 circumstances new to it. 



"First e.xperiment. — A Sphex, dragging her prey, is at a few inches from 

 her burrow. Without disturbing her I cut the antennae of the ephippiger, 

 which we already know serve as harnesses. Having recovered from her 

 astonishment at the sudden lightening of her load, the Sphex returns and 

 unhesitatingly seizes the base of the antenna?, the short stumps not cut off. 

 Very short they are — hardly a millimetre long; no matter, they suffice for 

 the Sphex, who grips what remains of her ropes and drags anew. With 

 many precautions not to hurt her, I cut off the two slumps, now level with 

 the skull. Finding nothing to seize at the parts familiar to her, she takes 

 hold on one side of one of the long palpi <if her victim, and drags it, not at 

 all put out by this modification in her style of harnessing herself. I leave 

 her alone. The prey is got home and placed with its head to the mouth of 

 the burrow. The Sphex enters to make a short inspection of the interior 

 before proceeding to store provisions. Her tactics recall those of S. flavi- 

 peiinis in like circumstances. I profit by this brief moment to take the aban- 

 doned prey, deprive it of all its palpi, and place it a little farther off — a pace 

 from the burrow. The Sphex reappears and goes straight to her game, 

 which she saw from her threshold. She seeks above the head, she seeks 



