The Modern Theory of Instinct 



ally, thanks to the accumulation of individual 

 capacities, added to those handed down by 

 heredity." 



The argument is erroneous: instinct deve- 

 loped by degrees is flagrantly impossible in 

 this case. The art of preparing the larva's 

 provisions allows of none but masters and 

 suffers no apprentices; the Wasp must excel 

 in it from the outset or leave the thing alone. 

 Two conditions, in fact, are absolutely essen- 

 tial: that the insect should be able to drag 

 home and store a quarry which greatly sur- 

 passes it in size and strength; and that the 

 newly-hatched grub should be able to gnaw 

 peacefully, in its narrow cell, a live and com- 

 paratively enormous prey. The suppression 

 of all movements in the victim is the only 

 means of realizing these conditions; and this 

 suppression, to be complete, requires sundry 

 dagger-thrusts, one in each motor centre. If 

 the paralysis and the torpor be not sufficient, 

 the Grey Worm will defy the efforts of the 

 huntress, will struggle desperately on the road 

 and will not reach the journey's end; if the 

 immobility be not complete, the egg, fixed 

 at a given spot on the worm, will perish un- 

 der the contortions of the giant. There is 

 no via media, no half-success. Either the 

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