The Mason-Wasps 



frightened, it exudes it to ward off the as- 

 sailant. The anal reservoir begins to work 

 when the first little drop appears from the 

 scent-bottles. What shall we say of this 

 protective device which becomes the cause of 

 excruciating torture? Unsophisticated crea- 

 tures, acquire the power of stinking, after 

 this; distil benzene; become bitter if you were 

 not bitter before: you will always find a 

 devourer to scrunch you, an epicure to nibble 

 your rump! South-American butterflies, 

 pray take note! 



I will not close the lamentable history of 

 the Chrysomela-grub without telling what 

 becomes of the creature after this horrible 

 mutilation. The complete inertia produced 

 by the thoracic injuries has nothing to teach 

 us that we do not already know from the facts 

 perceived in the larvae destined for the cells. 

 We will therefore consider the case in which 

 the grub is stung three or four times at the 

 tip of the abdomen only. I secure the crea- 

 ture when the Odynerus abandons it, after 

 greedily munching the last three segments 

 and scraping out the end of the intestine, 

 whose defensive and locomotory pimple has 

 disappeared. These three segments are 

 bruised and of a sickly colour; but I cannot 

 discover the least rent in the skin. The ab- 

 216 



