XVI 



THE BEMBEX 22q 



The verification of this magnificent sum-total is 

 easily obtained. I myself will undertake the maternal 

 cares of the Bembex, and feed the larva until it is 

 thoroughly satisfied. I place the cell in a little 

 cardboard box furnished with a layer of sand. On 

 this bed is placed the larva with due regard to its 

 delicate epidermis. Around it, without omitting a 

 single fragment, I arrange the provender with which 

 it was supplied, and return home with the box still 

 in my hand, to avoid any shake which might turn 

 it topsy-turvy and endanger my charge during a 

 journey of several miles. Any one who had seen me 

 on the dusty road to Nimes, exhausted with fatigue 

 and bearing religiously in my hand, as the only 

 result of my painful journey, a wretched grub, dis- 

 tending itself with a heap of flies, would assuredly 

 have smiled at my simplicity. The journey was 

 achieved without hindrance ; when I got home the 

 larva was peacefully consuming its flies as if nothing 

 had happened. On the third day the provisions taken 

 from the burrow were finished, and the grub with its 

 pointed mouth was searching in the heap of remains 

 without finding anything to its taste. The dry, 

 horny, juiceless pieces which it got hold of were 

 rejected with disgust. The moment had come for 

 me to continue the food supply. The first Diptera 

 within reach must content my prisoner ; I slew them 

 by squeezing them between my fingers, but did not 

 crush them. Three Eristalis tenax composed the 

 first ration, together with a Sarcophaga. In twenty- 

 four hours all were devoured. The next day I 

 provided two Eristalis and four house-flies. This 

 sufficed for that day, but nothing was left over. I 



