POISON-FANG AND STILETTO 173 



exactly in the middle, but slightly to one side 

 between the first and second pairs of feet. This 

 is a precautionary measure on the part of Mother 

 Sphex, as in that position her larva is practically 

 safe from harm; as the paralyzed cricket still 

 retains some power of movement in those parts 

 that have not been punctured by the poisonous 

 dart. Should the larva, on emerging from the 

 egg, bite the cricket in an unaffected part, a 

 convulsive movement might dislodge the little 

 creature, which, too feeble to climb again 

 on to the cricket, would perish for lack of 

 nourishment. 



Two or three chambers are hollowed out side 

 by side, and when the last one has been 

 provisioned and an egg laid, the Sphex closes 

 the burrow securely by brushing back into the 

 tunnel the loose sand she had scraped out, and 

 smoothing it over so that all signs of her labours 

 are effaced. The Sphex makes nine or ten 

 burrows, and lays altogether about thirty eggs ; 

 then, her task being finished, she flies away to 

 revel once more in the sunshine, and lead a 

 light-hearted, careless existence for the remainder 

 of her short life, which comes to an end with the 

 summer days. 



The egg hatches in two or three days' time 

 after it has been laid, and the feeble larva at 

 once begins to feed on the feast provided for it. 

 It grows rapidly in size and strength, and in 

 about a fortnight's time has devoured all the 

 crickets, leaving only the tough, horny skins, 

 feet and heads. It then sets to work to spin 

 a cocoon, in which it rests while its wonderful 



