The Hunting Wasps 



substitution of a live prey for the doomed 

 victim and to repeat the experiment as often 

 as we wish. Besides, the certainty that we 

 shall not lack subjects of observation, as and 

 when wanted, enables us to arrange every- 

 thing in advance. With the Languedocian 

 Sphex, these conditions of success do not ex- 

 ist. To set out expressly to look for her, 

 with one's material prepared, is almost use- 

 less, as the solitary insect is scattered one by 

 one over vast expanses of ground. More- 

 over, if you do come upon her, it will most 

 often be in an idle hour and you will get no- 

 thing out of her. As I said before, it is 

 nearly always unexpectedly, when your 

 thoughts are elsewhere engaged, that the 

 Sphex appears, dragging her Ephippiger 

 after her. 



This is the moment, the only propitious 

 moment to attempt a substitution of prey and 

 invite the huntress to let you witness her 

 lancet-thrusts. Quick, let us procure an al- 

 ternative morsel, a live Ephippiger ! Hurry, 

 time presses: in a few minutes, the burrow 

 will have received the victuals and the glori- 

 ous occasion will be lostl Must I speak of 

 my mortification at these moments of good 

 fortune, the mocking bait held out by chance ? 

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