THE GLOW-WORM 273 



the power of movement and the sense of pain? I can 

 see but one that is approximately suitable: anesthesia. 

 The exploits of a host of Wasps whose flesh-eating grubs 

 are provided with meat that is motionless though not 

 dead have taught us the skilful art of the paralyzing 

 insect, which numbs the locomotory nerve-centers with 

 its venom. We have now a humble little animal that 

 first produces complete anesthesia in its patient. Hu- 

 man science did not in reality invent this art, which is 

 one of the wonders of latter-day surgery. Much earlier, 

 far back in the centuries, the Lampyris and, apparently, 

 others knew it as well. The animal's knowledge had a 

 long start of ours; the method alone has changed. Our 

 operators proceed by making us inhale the fumes of 

 ether or chloroform; the insect proceeds by injecting a 

 special virus that comes from the mandibular fangs in 

 infinitesimal doses. Might we not one day be able to 

 benefit from this hint? What glorious discoveries the 

 future would have in store for us, if we understood the 

 beastie's secrets better! 



What does the Lampyris want with anesthetical talent 

 against a harmless and moreover eminently peaceful 

 adversary, who would never begin the quarrel of his own 

 accord? I think I see. We find in Algeria a beetle 

 known as Drilus maroccanus, who, though non-luminous, 

 approaches our Glow-worm in his organization and espe- 

 cially in his habits. He, too, feeds on Land Molluscs. 

 His prey is a Cyclostome with a graceful spiral shell, 

 tightly closed with a stony lid which is attached to the 

 animal by a powerful muscle. The lid is a movable door 



