More Hunting Wasps 



for it presides over the insect's weapons, 

 over the two powerful arms, toothed like 

 saws and ending in harpoons. The other 

 two, divided from the first by the whole 

 length of the prothorax, each face the origin 

 of the corresponding legs; consequently they 

 are very near each other. Beyond them are 

 the abdominal ganglia, which I pass over in 

 silence, as the operating insect does not have 

 to trouble about them. The movements of 

 the belly are mere pulsations and are in no 

 way dangerous. 



Now let us do a little reasoning on behalf 

 of our non-reasoning insect. The sacrificer 

 is weak; the victim is comparatively power- 

 ful. Three strokes of the lancet must 

 abolish all offensive movement. Where will 

 the first stroke be delivered? In front is a 

 real engine of warfare, a pair of powerful 

 shears with toothed jaws. Let the fore-arm 

 close upon the upper arm; and the impru- 

 dent insect, crushed between the two saw- 

 blades, will be torn to pieces; wounded by 

 the terminal hook, it will be eviscerated. 

 This ferocious mechanism is the great dan- 

 ger; it is this that must be mastered at the 

 outset, at the risk of life; the rest is less 

 urgent. The first blow of the stylet, cau- 

 tiously directed, is therefore aimed at the 

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