The Cetonia-larva 



into a hook which is not straightened without 

 an effort. 



Now what would become of the egg and 

 the new-born grub of the Scoliae, fixed under 

 the belly, at the centre of the Cetonia's spiral, 

 or inside the hook of the Oryctes or the 

 Anoxia? They would be crushed between 

 the jaws of the living vice. It is essential 

 that the arc should slacken and the hook 

 unbend, without the least possibility of their 

 returning to a state of tension. Indeed, the 

 well-being of the Scoliae demands something 

 more : those powerful bodies must not retain 

 even the power to quiver, lest they derange 

 a method of feeding which has to be con- 

 ducted with the greatest caution. 



The Cetonia-grub to which the Two- 

 banded Scolia's egg is fastened fulfils the 

 required conditions admirably. It is lying 

 on its back, in the midst of the mould, with 

 its belly fully extended. Long accustomed 

 though I be to this spectacle of victims para- 

 lysed by the sting of the Hunting Wasp, I 

 cannot suppress my astonishment at the pro- 

 found immobility of the prey before my eyes. 

 In the other victims with flexible skins. Cater- 

 pillars, Crickets, Mantes, Ephippigers, I per- 

 ceived at least some pulsations of the abdo- 

 men, a few feeble contortions under the stim- 

 89 



