A BEE-HUNTER 163 



the eyes of understanding the necessity of a sudden death 

 is as clear as day. Without eviscerating the bee, which 

 would result in the deterioration of its flesh considered 

 as food for the larvas ; without having recourse to the 

 bloody extirpation of the stomach, the Philanthus intends 

 to obtain its honey. By skilful manipulation, by cunning 

 massage, she must somehow make the bee disgorge. 

 Suppose the bee stung in the rear of the corselet and 

 paralysed. It is deprived of locomotion, but not of 

 vitality. The digestive apparatus, in particular, retains 

 in full, or at least in part, its normal energies, as is 

 proved by the frequent dejections of paralysed victims so 

 long as the intestine is not emptied ; a fact notably 

 exemplified by the victims of the Sphex family ; helpless 

 creatures which I have before now kept alive for forty 

 days with the aid of a little sugared water. Well ! with- 

 out therapeutic means, without emetics or stomach- 

 pumps, how is a stomach intact and in good order to 

 be persuaded to yield up its contents ? That of the bee, 

 jealous of its treasure, will lend itself to such treatment 

 less readily than another. Paralysed, the creature is 

 inert; but there are always internal energies and organic 

 resistances whicli will not yield to the pressure of the 

 manipulator. In vain would the Philanthus gnaw at the 

 throat and squeeze the flanks ; the honey would not 

 return to the mouth as long as a trace of life kept the 

 stomach closed. 



Matters are different with a corpse. The springs relax ; 

 the muscles yield ; the resistance of the stomach ceases, 

 and the vessels containing the honey are emptied by the 

 pressure of the thief. We see, therefore, that the Philan- 

 thus is obliged to inflict a sudden death which instantly 



