The Hunting Wasps 



by Tachytes tarsina and that I have seen her 

 digging cells and victualling them with game 

 acquired by her own valiant exertions. 



I have therefore only suspicions to offer 

 in explanation of the obstinacy of the Sphex- 

 wasps in going down their tunnels before 

 carrying in their prey. Can they have some 

 other object besides that of dislodging a para- 

 site who may have arrived during their ab- 

 sence? This is what I despair of ever know- 

 ing; for who can interpret the thousand ruses 

 of instinct? Poor human reason, which can- 

 not even fathom the wisdom of a Sphex! 



At any rate, it has been proved that these 

 ruses are singularly invariable. In this con- 

 nection, I will mention an experiment which 

 interested me greatly. Here are the par- 

 ticulars: at the moment when the Sphex is 

 making her domiciliary visit, I take the 

 Cricket left at the entrance to the dwelling 

 and place her a few inches farther away. 

 The Sphex comes up, utters her usual cry, 

 looks here and there in astonishment and, 

 seeing the game too far off, comes out of her 

 hole to seize it and bring it back to its right 

 place. Having done this, she goes down 

 again, but alone. I play the same trick upon 

 her; and the Sphex has the same disappoint- 

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