XII THE IGNORANCE OF INSTINCT 165 



us by its stupidity before some fact extremely simple, 

 but strange to its usual habits. The Sphex will offer 

 an example. 



Let us follow her dragging home an ephippiger. 

 If fortune favour us, we may be present at a little 

 scene which I will describe. On entering the shelter 

 under a rock where the burrow is made, the Sphex 

 finds, perched on a blade of grass, a carnivorous 

 insect which, under a most sanctimonious aspect, 

 hides the morals of a cannibal. The danger threat- 

 ened by this bandit in ambush on her path must be 

 known to the Sphex, for she leaves her game and 

 runs bravely at the Mantis to administer some sharp 

 blows and dislodge, or at all events, alarm and 

 inspire it with respect. It does not move, but closes 

 its deadly weapons — the two terrible saws of the arm 

 and forearm. The Sphex returns to her prey, 

 harnesses herself to the antennae, and passes audaci- 

 ously under the blade of grass where the Mantis sits. 

 From the direction of her head one can see that she 

 is on her guard, and is holding the enemy motionless 

 under her threatening eyes. Such courage is duly 

 rewarded ; the prey is stored without further mis- 

 adventure. 



A word more of the Praying Mantis, the Prego 

 Dieou as it is called in Provence, ix. the Pray-to- 

 God. And, indeed, its long, pale green wings, like 

 ample veils, its head upraised to heaven, its arms 

 folded and crossed on its breast, give it a false resem- 

 blance to a nun in ecstatic devotion. All the same, it is 

 a ferocious creature, bent on carnage. Although not 

 especially favourite hunting-grounds, the workshops of 

 various burrowing Hymenoptera are often visited by 



