XI THE SCIENCE OF INSTINCT 155 



But the ephippiger of the Sphex ? Need I say that 

 ten days after the operation this was perfectly fresh, 

 as it has to be for the larva whose destined prey it 

 is. Yet more, a few hours after the operation under 

 the skull, there reappeared as if nothing had happened 

 movements of an irregular kind in feet, antennae, 

 palpi, ovipositor, and mandibles — in short, the 

 creature was again in the same state as before 

 the Sphex bit its brain. And the movements went 

 on, only feebler each day. The Sphex had only 

 benumbed her victim for a period amply sufficient 

 to enable her to get it home without resistance, 

 while I, who thought myself her rival, was but a 

 clumsy, barbarous butcher, and killed mine. She, 

 with her inimitable dexterity, compressed the brain 

 scientifically to cause a lethargy of a few hours ; I, 

 brutal through ignorance, perhaps crushed this deli- 

 cate organ, primal source of life, with my pincers. 

 If anything could prevent my blushing at my defeat, 

 it would be that few if any could rival the Sphex 

 in skill. 



Ah ! now I comprehend why she did not use her 

 sting to injure the ganglia of the neck. A drop of 

 poison instilled here, at the centre of vital force, 

 would annihilate all nerve power, and death would 

 soon follow. But the Sphex does not at all desire 

 death. Dead food by no means suits the larvae, and 

 still less a body smelling of decay. All that is 

 needed is lethargy, a passing torpor, hindering resist- 

 ance while the victim is carted along — resistance 

 difficult to overcome and dangerous to the Sphex. 

 This torpor is obtained by the proceeding known in 

 laboratories of experimental science as compression 



