The Hunting Wasps 



driving the sting into the next segment. 

 This recoil of the insect and this gradual 

 clasping of the back, a little farther down on 

 each occasion, are effected with methodical 

 precision, as though the huntress were meas- 

 uring her prey. At each step backward, the 

 dart stings the following segment. In this 

 way are wounded the three thoracic seg- 

 ments, with the true legs; the next two seg- 

 ments, which are legless; and the four 

 segments with the prolegs. In all, nine 

 stings. The last four segments are dis- 

 regarded: they consist of three without legs 

 and the last, or thirteenth, with prolegs. 

 The operation is accomplished without seri- 

 ous difficulty: after the first prick of the 

 needle, the Grey Worm offers but a feeble 

 resistance. 



4. Lastly, the Ammophila, opening the 

 forceps of her mandibles to their full width, 

 seizes the caterpillar's head and crunches it, 

 squeezes it with a series of leisurely move- 

 ments, without creating a wound. These 

 squeezings follow upon one another with de- 

 liberate slowness : the insect seems to try each 

 time to learn the effect produced; it stops, 

 waits and then resumes the attack. This 

 manipulation of the brain, to attain the de- 

 368 



