The Languedocian Sphex 



brain. She has inspected the door, but has 

 not looked inside. Who knows if all is well 

 in there? She hastens to see, dropping the 

 Ephippiger before she goes. The interior is 

 inspected; and apparently a few pats of the 

 trowel are administered with the tarsi, giving 

 a last polish to the walls. Without lingering 

 too long over these delicate aftertouches, the 

 Wasp goes back to her booty and harnesses 

 herself to its antennas. Forward! Will the 

 journey be completed this time ? I would not 

 answer for it. I have known a Sphex, more 

 suspicious than the others, perhaps, or more 

 neglectful of the minor architectural details, 

 to repair her omissions, to dispel her doubts, 

 by abandoning her prize on the way five or 

 six times running, in order to hurry to the 

 burrow, which each time was touched up a 

 little or merely inspected within. It is true 

 that others make straight for their destina- 

 tion, without even stopping to rest. I must 

 also add that, when the Wasp goes home to 

 improve the dwelling, she does not fail to 

 give a glance from a distance every now and 

 then at the Ephippiger over there, to make 

 sure that nothing has happened to her. This 

 solicitude recalls that of the Sacred Beetle 

 155 



