The Hunting Wasps 



game. And so with the rest. They have 

 each their own taste. 



It is true that many allow themselves a 

 more varied bill of fare, but only within the 

 limits of one entomological group : thus the 

 Weevil- and Buprestis-hunters prey upon 

 any species proportioned to their strength. 

 Were the Hairy Ammophila to make a 

 change in her diet, that would be her case 

 too. Whether small and sundry to each cell 

 or large and single, the prey would always 

 consist of caterpillars. So far, so good. 

 But there remains the question of the many 

 replaced by the unit; and I do not yet know 

 one instance of such an alteration in the 

 Wasp's habits. She who stocks the burrow 

 with a single joint never thinks of heaping 

 up several of smaller size; she who goes on 

 repeated expeditions to stack a quantity of 

 game in the same cell does not know how to 

 limit herself to one head by choosing larger 

 meat. The result of my observations never 

 varies In this regard. The prehistoric Am- 

 mophila, who abandoned her multiplicity of 

 small game for one colossal head, has no- 

 thing to warrant her existence. 



If the point were conceded, would the ques- 

 tion be advanced? Not in the least.. Let 

 406 



