THE WAYS OF LIFE 213 



perfect from the first, it expresses an irresistible inborn im- 

 pulsion, at once untaught and unteachable. The insect's 

 achievements are due to ' inborn inspirations '. They look 

 like intelligence ; but disturb the routine, and the difference 

 becomes at once apparent. To instinct everything within 

 the routine is easy ; but the least step outside is difficult. 



It is many years since Fabre described the behaviour 

 of the Sphex wasp (S. flavipennis or S. maxillosus) in 

 stocking a larder for its young. It makes burrows, each 

 consisting of a horizontal porch, a sloping main shaft, 

 and off this three or four horizontal cells. In each cell, 

 the wasp places an egg and three or four paralysed crickets 

 or related insects. Each cell is closed when it is filled, 

 and the shaft is closed when the storing is completed. 

 Another shaft is then sunk. 



When the Sphex catches its cricket it stings it, usually 

 three times, in three different strategic points in the nervous 

 system, the result being that the cricket is incapable of 

 movement, but remains alive until the larvae of the Sphex 

 are ready to devour it. When the Sphex has stung the 

 cricket, it grips it by an antenna and drags it or flies with 

 it to the mouth of the burrow. There it lays it down, 

 and proceeds to inspect the burrow to see that everything 

 is as it should be. If everything is in order, it comes 

 up again, and drags the cricket with it, going in backwards. 

 The interesting experiment that Fabre made was to remove 

 the cricket while the Sphex was making its inspection of the 

 burrow. He placed it at a short distance. The Sphex, 

 coming up again, was apparently agitated by the disappear- 

 ance of its captive and sought for it energetically. Having 

 found it, the Sphex drew it a second time to the mouth 

 of the burrow, laid it down again, and proceeded to inspect 



