The Scoliae 



in the larval state, is the first food of the 

 Wasp whose cocoon I have just unearthed. 

 But which of the Scarabaeidae ? And does 

 this cocoon, my precious booty, really belong 

 to the Scolia? The problem is beginning to 

 take shape. To attempt its solution we must 

 go back to the Bois des Issards. 



I did go back and so often that my pa- 

 tience ended by being exhausted before the 

 problem of the ScoHae had received a satis- 

 factory solution. The difficulties are great 

 indeed, under the conditions. Where am I 

 to dig in the indefinite stretch of sandy soil 

 to light upon a spot frequented by the 

 Scoliae? The luchet is driven into the 

 ground at random; and almost invariably I 

 find none of what I am seeking. To be sure, 

 the males, flying level with the ground, give 

 me a hint, at the outset, with their certainty 

 of instinct, as to the spots where the females 

 ought to be; but their hints are very vague, 

 because they go so far in every direction. 

 If I wished to examine the soil which a single 

 male explores in his flight, with its constantly 

 changing course, I should have to turn over, 

 to the depth of perhaps a yard, at least four 

 poles of earth. This is too much for my 

 strength and the time at my disposal. Then, 

 as the season advances, the males disappear, 

 39 



