The Ignorance of Instinct 



of. A desperate attempt is made : the Wasp, 

 opening wide her mandibles, tries to grab the 

 Ephippiger by the head; but the pincers have 

 not a sufficient compass to take in so large a 

 bulk and they slip off the round, polished 

 skull. She makes several fresh endeavours, 

 each time without result. She is at length 

 convinced of the uselessness of her efforts. 

 She draws back a little to one side and ap- 

 pears to be renouncing further attempts. 

 One would say that she was discouraged; at 

 least, she smoothes her wings with her hind- 

 legs, while with her front tarsi, which she 

 first puts into her mouth, she washes her eyes. 

 This, so it has always seemed to me, is a sign 

 in Hymenoptera of giving up a job. 



Nevertheless there is no lack of parts by 

 which the Ephippiger might be seized and 

 dragged along as easily as by the antennae 

 and the palpi. There are the six legs, there 

 is the ovipositor: all organs slender enough 

 to be gripped boldly and to serve as hauling- 

 ropes. I agree that the easiest way to effect 

 the storing is to introduce the prey head first, 

 drawn down by the antennae; but it would 

 enter almost as readily if drawn by a leg, 

 especially one of the front legs, for the orifice 

 is wide and the passage short or sometimes 

 195 



