( cxxvi ) 



fact it would almost appear that Darwinian evolution as apart 

 from Lamarckian evolution is really unknown to this great 

 naturalist. He seems invariably to strike Lamarck when he 

 aims at Darwin. In this however he is only acting in the 

 same manner as the majority of the early critics of the 

 " Origin." * 



In attempting to decide upon the past history of these 

 insects the first necessity is to be svire of the facts. Fortu- 

 nately the ground has been re-traversed by Mr. and Mrs. 

 Peckham, so that we can compare the observations of great 

 and keen naturalists in two hemispheres. We find that 

 by the study of nine wasps of an American species, A. urnaria, 

 of the very genus AinmophUa, which, as previously described, 

 chiefly furnished the basis of speculation, the American 

 naturalists have shown that the immense superstructure is 

 in large part due to a fertile imagination. So far from the 

 assumed perfection and accuracy with which every detail is 

 supposed to be repeated, the instinct is shown to be excessively 

 variable. The frequently-quoted conclusions that the object 

 of the sting is to reduce the larvje to helplessness and yet 

 keep it in a fresh condition, that a dead larva would be 

 unsuitable food and an active one a danger to the offspring 

 of the wasp — ail these conclusions are entirely disposed of by 

 a few careful specially directed observations. These show that 

 the larva rapidly dies in a large proportion of cases and yet 

 affords excellent food, and that it may remain sufficiently 

 uninjured to wriggle continuously without stimulation, and 

 to move violently when bitten by the larva of the wasp.f 



The following activities or performances are regarded as 

 truly instinctive, viz. as due to the compulsion of a hereditary 

 nervous mechanism : — Stinging, the methods of attack, cap- 

 ture and carriage of prey peculiar to each species, the kind of 

 prey selected, the general style and situation of the nest, the 

 form of cocoon. J 



The American naturalists finally conclude their volume with 

 these words : — " The general impression that remains with us 



* "Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist," vol. xxvi, 1894, pp. 377—379. See 

 also Poulton, "Charles Darwin and the Theory of Natural Selection," 

 London, 1896, chapters xix, xx, pp. 144-160. 



t I.e., pp. 30, 31. t i-c, p. 234. 



