116 NATURAL HISTORY. [CH. VI. 



evidently on the look-out for game ; as soon as it 

 discovers a cock-roach, it remains fixed for a few 

 seconds, during which the two insects appear to eye 

 each other. The wasp, then pouncing on its prey, 

 seizes it by the muzzle ; it then insinuates its body 

 under that of the cock-roach, and inflicts a wound. 

 As soon as the wasp feels sure that the fatal poison 

 has been introduced into the body of its enemy, the 

 insect appears to be aware of its effect, and takes a 

 turn or two to give it time to work. Having thus 

 departed for a few instants, it returns, and is sure 

 to find the cock-roach motionless on the spot where 

 it had been left. Naturally timid, the cock-roach 

 appears to be at this juncture totally incapable of 

 resistance, and suffers its enemy to seize its head 

 and drag it backwards towards a little hole situate 

 in the next wall. Sometimes the way is long*, and 

 then the wasp stops and takes a turn or two to 

 breathe and recruit its strength ere it proceeds to 

 finish its task. Sometimes it lays down the unre- 

 sisting cock-roach and makes its way alone to the 

 nest, probably to reconnoitre whether any obstacles 

 impede the way: returning in a few moments, it 

 again lays hold of its prey. M. Cassigni, having, 

 during the absence of the wasp, removed the cock- 

 roach to a little distance, was highly amused with 

 the restless embarrassment of this creature, when 

 the prey seemed to have been thus snatched from 

 its gripe. But the cock-roach having been ulti- 

 mately dragged to the den of the insect, the hardest 

 part of its task was yet to be accomplished ; for the 

 aperture by which the wasp could enter was by no 

 means roomy enough to admit the larger frame of 

 the cock-roach : the insect, however, went in, and 

 applied its utmost force to drag its prey in after. 

 But these efforts were too often quite unsuccessful. 

 The remedy adopted in this dilemma would not have 

 disgraced a reasonable creature. It quietly lopped 

 off the wings and legs of the cock-roach, and thus 



