The Bembex 



whole and four in pieces) ; four Syrphus co- 

 rolla (two complete, the other two broken 

 up) ; three Gonia atra (all three untouched: 

 one of them had that moment been brought 

 along by the mother, which led to my discov- 

 ering the burrow) ; two Pollenia rufescens 

 (one untouched, the other partly eaten) ; one 

 Bombylius (reduced to pulp) ; two Echino- 

 myia intermedia (in bits) ; and two Pollenia 

 floralis (likewise in bits) : twenty pieces in 

 all. This certainly makes a both plentiful 

 and varied bill of fare; but, as the larva was 

 only a third of its ultimate size, the complete 

 menu might easily number as many as sixty 

 items. 



It is not at all difficult to verify this sump- 

 tuous figure: I will myself take the place of 

 the Bembex in her maternal functions and 

 supply the larva with food till it is ready to 

 burst. I move the cell into a little cardboard 

 box which I furnish with a layer of sand. I 

 place the larva on this bed, with all due con- 

 sideration for its delicate skin. Around it, 

 without omitting a single fragment, I ar- 

 range the provisions with which it was sup- 

 plied. Then I go home, still holding the box 

 in my hand, to avoid any shaking which 

 might turn the house upside down and en- 

 287 



