The Primary Larva of the Sitares 



thophoras; the result is still the same: the 

 larvae embed themselves in the hair of the 

 Bees' thorax. But after so many disappoint- 

 ments one becomes distrustful and it is better 

 to go and observe the facts upon the spot; 

 besides, the Easter holidays fall very con- 

 veniently and afford me the leisure for my 

 observations. 



I will admit that my heart was beating a 

 little faster than usual when I found myself 

 once again standing in front of the perpend- 

 icular bank in which the Anthophora 

 nests. What will be the result of the experi- 

 ment ? Will it once more cover me with con- 

 fusion? The weather is cold and rainy; not 

 a Bee shows herself on the few spring flowers 

 that have come out. Numbers of Anthopho- 

 rae cower, numbed and motionless, at the en- 

 trance to the galleries. With the tweezers, 

 I extract them one by one from their lurking- 

 places, to examine them under the lens. The 

 first has Sitaris-larvae on her thorax; so has 

 the second; the third and fourth likewise; 

 and so on, as far as I care to pursue the 

 examination. I change galleries ten times, 

 twenty times; the result is invariable. Then, 

 for me, occurred one of the moments which 

 come to those who, after considering and re- 

 considering an idea for years and years from 

 57 



