IV CERCERIS TUBERCULATA 55 



captor and captive headlong to the bottom, but 

 the indefatigable mother finally darts into her 

 burrow, covered with dust, but with the prey of 

 which she has never let go. If she does not find 

 walking with such a burden easy, it is otherwise 

 with her flight, which is surprisingly powerful, if one 

 considers that the strong little creature is carrying a 

 prey nearly as large as and heavier than herself. I 

 have had the curiosity to weigh the Cerceris and 

 her prey separately, and the first weighed 150 

 milligrammes, and the second about 250, almost 

 double. 



These weights speak eloquently for the vigorous 

 huntress, and I never wearied of watching how 

 swiftly and easily she resumed her flight, and rose 

 out of sight with the game between her feet when 

 approached too closely. But she did not always 

 fly away, and then, though it was difficult to do so, 

 and yet avoid hurting her, I would make her drop 

 the prey by worrying and upsetting her with a 

 straw. Then I would take possession of the victim, 

 and the Cerceris, thus despoiled, would hunt about, 

 go into her hole for a moment, come out, and 

 resume the chase. In less than ten minutes the 

 sharp-sighted insect would find a new victim, murder 

 it and carry it off, not seldom to my profit. Eight 

 times running have I stolen from the same in- 

 dividual ; eight times did the indefatigable Cerceris 

 resume her fruitless journey. Her perseverance tired 

 out mine, and I let her keep the ninth capture. 



By this means, and by breaking open cells 

 already filled with provisions, I got nearly a hundred 

 weevils, and in spite of what I had a right to 



