The Three Dagger-thrusts 



pill;i and even then their sting is much less 

 painful than the Bees'. 



One last word: we know how furiously 

 the Hymenoptera armed with a purely de- 

 fensive dart, the Social Wasps, for instance, 

 rush upon him who is bold enough to disturb 

 their dweUing-house and punish him for his 

 temerity. On the other hand, those whose 

 sting is intended for killing game are very 

 pacific, as though they were aware of the im- 

 portance which the Httle drop of poison in 

 their phial possesses for their family. This 

 tiny drop is the safeguard of their race, I 

 might say, its livelihood; and so they are very 

 economical in its use, reserving it for the 

 serious business of the chase, without any 

 parade of vindictive courage. I was not once 

 punished with a sting when I established my- 

 self amid the villages of our various Hunt- 

 ing Wasps, though I overturned their nests 

 and stole the larvae and the provisions. ^ You 

 must lay hold of the insect to make it use 

 its weapon ; and even then it does not always 

 pierce the skin, unless you place within its 

 reach a part more delicate than the fingers, 

 such as, for instance, the wrist. 



iCf. The Life and Love of the Insect: chap, xii.— 

 Translator's Note. 



91 



