The Languedocian Sphex 



the ground for her hauling-work, in which 

 she displays wonderful strength. When 

 laden with her prey, she always goes afoot, 

 or takes but very short flights, even under 

 conditions when flight would save her time 

 and trouble. I will quote an instance taken 

 from my latest observations on this curious 

 Wasp. 



A Sphex appears unexpectedly, coming I 

 know not whence. She is on foot, dragging 

 her Ephippiger, a capture which apparently 

 she has made that moment in the neighbour- 

 hood. In the circumstances, it behoves her 

 to dig herself a burrow. The site is as bad 

 as bad can be. It is a well-beaten path, hard 

 as stone. The Sphex, who has no time to 

 make laborious excavations, because the al- 

 ready captured prize must be stored as quickly 

 as possible, the Sphex wants soft ground, 

 wherein the larva's chamber can be contrived 

 in one short spell of work. I have described 

 her favourite soil, namely, the dust of years 

 which has accumulated at the bottom of some 

 hole in a wall or of some little shelter under 

 the rocks. Well, the Sphex whom I am now 

 observing stops at the foot of a house with a 

 newly-whitewashed front some twenty to 

 twenty-five feet high. Her instinct tells her 



