FABRE'S BOOK OF INSECTS 



her head into the opening, and touches the grub with the 

 tip of her antenna. The grub wakes and gapes at her, 

 like a fledgling when the mother-bird returns to the 

 nest with food. 



For a moment the awakened larva swings its head to 

 and fro : it is blind, and is trying to feel the food brought 

 to it. The two mouths meet; a drop of syrup passes 

 from the nurse's mouth to the nurseling's. That is 

 enough for the moment: now for the next Wasp-baby. 

 The nurse moves on, to continue her duties elsewhere. 



Meanwhile the grub is licking the base of its own 

 neck. For, while it is being fed, there appears a tempo- 

 rary swelling on its chest, which acts as a bib, and catches 

 whatever trickles down from the mouth. After 

 swallowing the chief part of the meal the grub gathers up 

 the crumbs that have fallen on its bib. Then the swell- 

 ing disappears; and the grub, withdrawing a little way 

 into its cell, resumes its sweet slumbers. 



When fed in my cage the Wasp-grubs have their heads 

 up, and what falls from their mouths collects naturally 

 on their bibs. When fed in the nest they have their 

 heads down. But I have no doubt that even in this 

 position the bib serves its purpose. 



By slightly bending its head the grub can always de- 

 posit on the projecting bib a portion of the overflowing 

 mouthful, which is sticky enough to remain there. 



[150] 



