Change of Diet 



by two small Locustidae. At first the larva 

 does not touch them, being amply sated with 

 the copious meal of the day before. In the 

 afternoon, however, one of the items is reso- 

 lutely attacked. 



4 August. — I renew the victuals, although 

 those of the day before are not finished. 

 For the rest, I do the same daily, so that my 

 charge may constantly have fresh food at 

 hand. High game might upset its stomach. 

 My Locustidae are not victims at the same 

 time living and inert, operated upon accord- 

 ing to the dehcate method of the insects that 

 paralyse their prey; they are corpses, pro- 

 cured by a brutal crushing of the head. 

 With the temperature now prevailing, flesh 

 soon becomes tainted; and this compels me 

 frequently to renew the provisions in my sar- 

 dine-box refectory. Two specimens are 

 served up. One is attacked soon after- 

 wards; and the larva clings to it assiduously. 



5 August. — The ravenous appetite of the 

 start is becoming assuaged. My supplies 

 may well be too generous; and it might be 

 prudent to try a little dieting after this Gar- 

 gantuan good cheer. The mother certainly 

 is more parsimonious. If all the family 

 were to eat at the same rate as my guest, 

 she would never be able to keep pace with 



193 



