The Mason-bees 



knows to be close at hand. She has no 

 strength to do more; and it is for the new- 

 born grub to make its way into the refectory. 



I am better acquainted with the manoeuvres 

 of certain Tachinae, the tiniest of pale-grey 

 Flies, who, cowering on the sand in the sun, 

 in the neighbourhood of a burrow, patiently 

 await the hour at which to strike the fell 

 blow. Let a Bembex return from the chase, 

 with her Gad-fly; a Philanthus, with her Bee; 

 a Cerceris, with her Weevil; a Tachytes, with 

 her Locust: straightway the parasites are 

 there, coming and going, turning and twist- 

 ing with the Wasp, always at her rear, with- 

 out allowing themselves to be put off by any 

 cautious feints. At the moment when the 

 huntress goes indoors, with her captured game 

 between her legs, they fling themselves on her 

 prey, which is on the point of disappearing 

 under ground, and nimbly lay their eggs 

 upon it. The thing is done in the twinkling 

 of an eye: before the threshold is crossed, the 

 carcase holds the germs of a new set of guests, 

 who will feed on victuals not amassed for 

 them and starve the children of the house to 

 death. 



This other, resting on the burning sand, is 

 198 



