The Method of the Calicurgi 



The problem was one deserving patient 

 study. True, I foresaw, from the Spider's 

 organization, a single sting in the centre of 

 the thorax; but that did not explain the 

 victory of the Wasp, emerging safe and 

 sound from her tussle with such a quarry. 

 I had to see what occurred. The chief dif- 

 ficulty was the scarcity of the Calicurgus. 

 It is easy for me to obtain the Tarantula 

 at the desired moment: the part of the 

 plateau in my neighbourhood left untilled by 

 the vine-growers provides me with as many 

 as are necessary. To capture the Pompilus 

 is another matter. I have so little hope of 

 finding her that special quests are regarded 

 as useless. To search for her would per- 

 haps be just the way not to find her. Let 

 us rely on the uncertainties of chance. 

 Shall I get her or shall I not? 



I've got her. I catch her unexpectedly on 

 the flowers. Next day I supply myself with 

 half a dozen Tarantulae. Perhaps I shall 

 be able to employ them one after the other 

 in repeated duels. As I return from my 

 Lycosa-hunt, luck smiles upon me again and 

 crowns my desires. A second Calicurgus 

 offers herself to my net; she is dragging her 

 heavy, paralysed Spider by one leg, in the 

 dust of the highway. I attach great value 

 32s 



