The Tachytes 



lethal fore-legs, which imperil the vivisec- 

 tor's own existence. Above all, there must 

 be no hesitation. The blow must be ac- 

 curate then and there, or the sacrificer will 

 be caught in the vice and perish. The two 

 other pairs of legs present no danger to the 

 operator, who might neglect them if she had 

 only her own security to think of; but the 

 surgeon is operating with a view to the egg, 

 which demands complete immobility in the 

 provisions. Their centres of innervation 

 will therefore be stabbed as well, with the 

 leisure which the Mantis, now put out of 

 action, permits. These legs, as well as their 

 nervous centres, are situated very far behind 

 the first point attacked. There is a long 

 neutral interval, that of the prothorax, into 

 which it is quite useless to drive the sting. 

 This interval has to be crossed; by a back- 

 ward movement conforming with the secrets 

 of the victim's internal anatomy, the second 

 ganglion must be reached and then its neigh- 

 bour, the third. In short, the surgical op- 

 eration may be formulated thus : a first stab 

 of the lancet in front; a considerable move- 

 ment to the rear, measuring about two-fifths 

 of an inch; lastly, two lancet-thrusts at two 

 points very close together. Thus speaks the 

 science of man; thus counsels reason, guided 

 IS3 



