More Hunting Wasps 



docian Sphex religiously consume the Ephip- 

 piger, that family dish so dear to their an- 

 cestors and no less dear to their descendants; 

 no innovation in the ancient usages can tempt 

 them. Others are better suited by variety, 

 for reasons connected with flavour or with 

 facility of supply; but then the selection of 

 the game is kept within fixed limits. 

 A natural group, a genus, a family, more 

 rarely almost a whole order; this is the hunt- 

 ing-ground beyond which poaching is strictly 

 forbidden. The law is absolute; and one 

 and all scrupulously refrain from transgress- 

 ing it. 



In the place of the Praying Mantis, offer 

 the Mantis-hunting Tachytes an equivalent 

 in the shape of a Locust. She will scorn 

 the morsel, though it would seem to be of 

 excellent flavour, seeing that Panzer's 

 Tachytes prefers it to any other form of 

 game. Offer her a young Empusa, who 

 differs so widely from the Mantis in shape 

 and colour: she will accept without hesita- 

 tion and operate before your eyes. Despite 

 its fantastic appearance, the Devilkin is in- 

 stantly recognized by the Tachytes as a 

 Mantid and therefore as game falHng within 

 her scope. 



In exchange for her Cleonus, give to the 

 i;6 



