More Hunting Wasps 



by anatomical structure. Having said this 

 much let us observe the insect's practice. 



There is no difficulty about seeing the 

 Tachytes operate in our presence; we have 

 only to resort to the method of substitution, 

 which has already done me so much service, 

 that is, to deprive the huntress of her prey 

 and at once to give her, in exchange, a living 

 Mantis of about the same size. This sub- 

 stitution is impracticable with the majority 

 of the Tachytes, who reach the threshold of 

 their dwelling in a single flight and at once 

 vanish underground with their game. A 

 few of them, from time to time, harassed 

 perhaps by their burden, chance to alight 

 at a short distance from their burrow, or 

 even drop their prey. I profit by these rare 

 occasions to witness the tragedy. 



The dispossessed Wasp recognizes In- 

 stantly, from the proud bearing of the sub- 

 stituted Mantis, that she is no longer em- 

 bracing and carrying off an inoffensive car- 

 case. Her hovering, hitherto silent, de- 

 velops a buzz, perhaps to overawe the vic- 

 tim; her flight becomes an extremely rapid 

 oscillation, always behind the quarry. It Is 

 as who should say the quick movement of a 

 pendulum swinging without a wire to hang 

 from. The Mantis, however, lifts herself 

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