The Languedocian Sphex 



luctantly, just to give a perfunctory sweep and 

 soon end by knocking off work, unable to re- 

 sist the exquisite temptation of luxuriating on 

 the vine-leaves. 



It may be that the voluptuous couch is also 

 an observatory, whence the Wasp surveys the 

 surrounding country in order to discover and 

 select her prey. Her exclusive game is the 

 Ephippiger of the Vine, scattered here and 

 there on the branches or on any brambles 

 hard by. The joint is a substantial one, espe- 

 cially as the Sphex favours solely the females, 

 whose bellies are swollen with a mighty clus- 

 ter of eggs. 



Let us take no notice of the repeated trips, 

 the fruitless searches, the tedium of frequent 

 long waiting, but rather present the Sphex 

 suddenly to the reader as she herself appears 

 to the observer. Here she is, at the bottom 

 of a sunken road with high, sandy banks. 

 She comes on foot, but gets help from her 

 wings in dragging her heavy prize. The 

 Ephippiger's antennae, long and slender as 

 threads, are the harnessing-ropes. Holdmg 

 her head high, she grasps one of them in her 

 mandibles. The antenna gripped passes be- 

 tween her legs; and the game follows, turned 

 over on its back. Should the soil be too un- 

 147 



