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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 sure 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. wrnaria, 
of the very genus Ammophila, 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 larvee to helplessness and yet 
keep it in a fresh condition, that a dead larva would he 
unsuitable food and an active one a danger to the offspring 
of the wasp—all 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 sufticiently 
uninjured to wriggle continuously without stimulation, and 
to move violently when bitten by the larva of the wasp.+ 
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. } 
The American naturalists finally conclude their volume with 
these words :—‘ The general impression that remains with us 
* ¢*Proe, 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. 
Tt 7.¢., pp. 30, 3. i Uc., p. 234. 
