The Hunting Wasps 



nurseling's appetite called for many of them. 

 Another dish was preferred, the Ephippiger, 

 of whom a stock was collected from time to 

 time among the stalks and prickly leaves of 

 the eryngo. The three insects which Emile 

 brought me came from the Shrike's larder. 

 My pity for the fallen nestling had procured 

 me this unhoped-for success. 



After making the circle of spectators stand 

 back so as to leave the field clear for the 

 Sphex, I take away her prey with a pair of 

 pincers and at once give her in exchange one 

 of my Ephippigers, carrying a sword at the 

 end of her belly, like the game which I have 

 abstracted. The dispossessed Wasp stamps 

 her feet two or three times; and that is the 

 only sign of impatience which she gives. She 

 goes for her new prey, which is too stout, too 

 obese even to try to avoid pursuit, grips it 

 with her mandibles by the saddle-shaped 

 corselet, gets astride and, curving her abdo- 

 men, slips the end of it under the Ephip- 

 piger's thorax. Here, no doubt, some stings 

 are administered, though I am unable to state 

 the number exactly, because of the difficulty of 

 observation. The Ephippiger, a peaceable 

 victim, suffers herself to be operated on with- 

 out resistance; she is like the silly Sheep of 

 180 



