114 THE LIFE OF AN INSECT. 



warrior looses the foe, and soars in triumph a 

 little way into the air, satisfied of a successful 

 issue. 



The wretched kakerlac, after a few brief con- 

 vulsions, lies paralysed on the ground unable to 

 stir a step from the spot where it encountered 

 its terrible adversary. Fully aware of this, the 

 victorious wasp, after taking a few turns, as if to 

 proclaim the downfal of the Giant Kakerlac to 

 the surrounding neighbourhood, returns to the 

 scene where the conflict was fought. The kaker- 

 lac, unable to resist the victor, and being natu- 

 rally, though a great devourer, a very faint-hearted 

 creature, lies immovable while the wasp seizes 

 the prostrate foe by the head, and in a sort of 

 triumphal march drags it along the road to its 

 nest. But though the kakerlac was not a diffi- 

 cult enemy to overcome, the weight and size of 

 its body are a sore burden to the victor wasp. 

 The way to the nest is long, tedious, and rugged. 

 After a hard pull over all sorts of obstacles 

 the wasp becomes completely breathless, and is 

 obliged to let go, and for a rest it generally rises 

 into the air, probably with a view of reconnoitring 

 future difficulties, and of ascertaining the best 



