More Hunting Wasps 



gaudy costume as the first and is almost of 

 the same size. 



Now what does this newcomer, of whom 

 I know nothing, want? A Spider, that is 

 certain; but which? A huntress Hke this 

 will need a corpulent quarry: perhaps the 

 Silky Epeira {E. serica), perhaps the Banded 

 Epeira {E. fasciata), the largest Spiders in 

 the district, next to the Tarantula. The 

 first of these spreads her large upright net, 

 in which Locusts are caught, from one clump 

 of brushwood to another. I find her in the 

 copses on the neighbouring hills. The sec- 

 ond stretches hers across the ditches and the 

 little streams frequented by the Dragon-flies. 

 I find her near the Aygues, beside the irri- 

 gation-canals fed by the torrent. A couple 

 of trips procures me the two Epeirae, whom 

 I offer to my captive next day, both at the 

 same time. It is for her to choose accord- 

 ing to her taste. 



The choice is soon made: the Banded 

 Epeira is the one preferred. But she does 

 not yield without protest. On the approach 

 of the Wasp, she rises and assumes a de- 

 fensive attitude, just like that of the Lycosa. 

 The Calicurgus pays no attention to threats : 

 under her harlequin's coat, she is violent in 

 attack and quick on her legs. There is a 



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