The Hunting Wasps 



female Ephlpplger, harbouring in her belly 

 a copious and succulent cluster of eggs. This 

 appears to be the favourite food of the grubs. 

 Well, in my hurried rush through the vines, I 

 had laid my hands on an Ephippiger of the 

 other sex. I was offering the Sphex a male. 

 More far-seeing than I in this important ques- 

 tion of provender, the Wasp would have no- 

 thing to say to my game : 



"A male, indeed! Is that a dinner for 

 my larvae? What do you take them for? " 



What nice discrimination they have, these 

 dainty epicures, who are able to differentiate 

 between the tender flesh of the female and the 

 comparatively dry flesh of the males ! What 

 an unerring glance, which can distinguish at 

 once between the two sexes, so much alike in 

 shape and colour! The female carries a 

 sword at the tip of her abdomen, the oviposi- 

 tor wherewith the eggs are buried in the 

 ground; and that is about the only external 

 difference between her and the male. This 

 distinguishing feature never escapes the per- 

 spicacious Sphex; and that is why, in my ex- 

 periment, the Wasp rubbed her eyes, hugely 

 puzzled at beholding swordless a prey which 

 she well knew carried a sword when she 

 caught it. What must not have passed 

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