THE FOSSORS OR DIGGERS 19 



species of some particular family, thereby dis- 

 playing a discernment worthy of any advanced 

 entomologist. Some provision their cells with 

 beetles, some with grasshoppers, others with 

 spiders, caterpillars, plant lice, etc. 



The strength possessed by the female fossor 

 must be proportionately enormous, as she can 

 bring back to her burrow, after paralyzing them, 

 insects many times her own size. It is a most 

 interesting sight to see the excitement and 

 flurry of the captor as it tries to drag along some 

 huge prey to its nest. I remember seeing one 

 dragging along a good-sized caterpillar, of a 

 noctuid moth, over rather rough ground : the 

 poor creature had a difficult job ; it had to go 

 backwards itself, and pull the body of the cater- 

 pillar, after it its behaviour was very much like 

 that of an ant which has a large burden ; at times 

 it would loose its hold of it and try it from some 

 other quarter ; however, by degrees, by pulling 

 and tugging, the prey was safely brought home, 

 but the force expended must have been very great. 

 Many species, however, hunt insects of much 

 smaller size than themselves, and it is those 

 which take a fancy to grasshoppers and cater- 



