9 8 ROUND THE YEAR 



by their artifices. We forget that these things pass 

 in a lower sphere of existence, and shudder at the 

 train of thefts, deceptions and robberies which enter 

 into the plan of our alma par ens rerum. 



" The young Meloe larvae, once settled on the hairs 

 of Anthophora or its nest-parasites, are in a sure way 

 to reach sooner or later the cell which is their goal. 

 Are they guided by intelligence, or do they attach 

 themselves by chance to anything that offers? It was 

 not difficult to clear up the point. Drone-flies and 

 Blow-flies dashed now and then against the flowers of 

 the Groundsel and Chamomile in which the Meloe 

 larvae were lurking, and paused for a moment to suck 

 the sweet juices. On all, or very nearly all these 

 Flies, I found Meloe larvae, clinging to the thoracic 

 hairs. An Ammophila (Sand-wasp) which provisions 

 its burrows in early spring with a caterpillar, just 

 grazed the surface of a flower. I caught it, and found 

 Meloe larvae running over its body. Neither the 

 Eristalis and Blow-fly, whose larvae feed on putrid 

 flesh, nor the Sand-wasp which feeds its young with 

 caterpillars, could ever transport the Meloe larvae to 

 the cells filled with honey which they desire. These 

 larvae had gone astray, and it is clear that their 

 instinct is not infallible. 



" Let us study more carefully the Meloe larvae as 

 they wait in expectation on the Chamomile flowers. 

 There they are, ten, twelve or more together, half 

 concealed within or between the florets. They are 

 not easily seen, as the amber-yellow of their bodies 

 matches the colour of the central florets. So long as 

 the flower is undisturbed, they remain motionless, 



