The Bee-eating Philanthus 



and undergoes the same fate without satis- 

 fying the bandit. I offer a fourth and a 

 fifth. They are all accepted. My notes 

 mention one Philanthus who In front of my 

 eyes sacrificed six Bees In succession and 

 squeezed out their crops in the regulation 

 manner. The slaughter came to an end not 

 because the glutton was sated but because 

 my functions as a purveyor were becoming 

 rather difficult: the dry month of August 

 causes the Insects to, avoid my harmas, which 

 at this season Is denuded of flowers. Six 

 crops emptied of their honey: what an orgy! 

 And even then the ravenous creature would 

 very likely not have scorned a copious addi- 

 tional course, had I possessed the means of 

 supplying It! 



There is no reason to regret this break 

 In the service; the little that I have said is 

 more than enough to prove the singular 

 characteristics of the Bee-slayer. I am far 

 from denying that the Philanthus has an hon- 

 est means of earning her livelihood; I find 

 her working on the flowers as assiduously as 

 the other Wasps, peacefully drawing her 

 honeyed beakers. The males even, possess- 

 ing no lancet, know no other manner of re- 

 freshment. The mothers, without neglect- 

 ing the table d'hote of the flowers, support 

 259 



