148 INSECT LIFE 



XI 



still dragging her victim ! Thank heaven ! all favours 

 me. She is still at some distance from her hole, and 

 is bringing along her prey. With my pincers I 

 gently draw it back. She resists, clutches the 

 antennae and will not let go. I pull harder, even 

 making her go backwards ; it is in vain, she holds on. 

 I had with me a pair of delicate little scissors, part 

 of my entomological outfit, and I rapidly cut the 

 harness, otherwise the long antennae of the ephippiger. 

 The Sphex still advanced, but soon paused, surprised 

 by the sudden lightening of her load, which now 

 indeed only consisted of the antennae detached by 

 my malicious artifice. The real burden, the heavy- 

 bodied insect, remained behind, instantly replaced by 

 my living one. The Sphex turned, let go the ropes, 

 which now drew nothing, and retraced her steps. 

 Now she is face to face with the prey substituted for 

 her own. She examines it, walks round it with 

 suspicious caution, stops, wets her foot with saliva 

 and washes her eyes. While thus meditating does 

 she say to herself something of this kind : " Well, 

 am I awake or am I asleep ? Do I see clearly or 

 not ? This thing is not mine. Of what or whom 

 am I the dupe ? " At all events she is in no haste 

 to bite my prey. She holds aloof, and shows not the 

 smallest wish to seize it. To excite her I offered the 

 insect with the tips of my fingers, putting the 

 antennae almost in her jaws, well aware of her 

 audacious tameness, and that she will take from your 

 fingers prey withdrawn and then offered. What is 

 this ? She draws back, disdaining my offers and 

 the prey put within her reach. I put down the 

 ephippiger, which, unconscious of danger, goes 



