The Hunting Wasps 



sible attention, in the hope of finding a few 

 Cerceres engaged in hunting. An afternoon 

 devoted to this thankless task ended by per- 

 suading me of the futility of my quest and of 

 the small chance which I had of catching in 

 the act a few scarce huntresses, scattered here 

 and there and soon lost to view through the 

 swiftness of their flight, especially on difficult 

 ground, thickly planted with vines and olive- 

 trees. I abandoned the attempt. 



By myself bringing live Weevils into the 

 vicinity of the nests, might I not tempt the 

 Cerceres with a victim all ready to hand and 

 thus witness the desired tragedy? The idea 

 seemed a good one ; and the very next morn- 

 ing I went off in search of live specimens of 

 Cleonus ophthalmicus. Vineyards, cornfields, 

 lucerne-crops, hedges, stone-heaps, road- 

 sides: I visited and inspected one and all; 

 and, after two mortal days of minute investi- 

 gation, I was the possessor dare I say 

 it? I was the possessor of three Weevils, 

 flayed, covered with dust, minus antennae or 

 tarsi, maimed veterans whom the Cerceres 

 would perhaps refuse to look at! Many 

 years have passed since the days of that 

 fevered quest when, bathed in sweat, I made 

 those wild expeditions, all for a Weevil; and, 

 36 



