102 FABRE'S BOOK OF INSECTS 



become a cr&che. With what care those grubs are reared ! 

 If we watch one of the busy Wasps we shall see her, with 

 her crop swollen with honey, halt in front of a cell. With 

 a thoughtful air she bends her head into the opening, and 

 touches the grub with the tip of her antenna. The grub 

 wakes and gapes at her, like a fledgling when the mother- 

 bird returns to the nest with food. 



For a moment the awakened larva swings its head to 

 and fro : it is blind, and is trying to feel the food brought 

 to it. The two mouths meet ; a drop of syrup passes from 

 the nurse's mouth to the nursling's. That is enough for 

 the moment : now for the next Wasp-baby. The nurse 

 moves on, to continue her duties elsewhere. 



Meanwhile the grub is licking the base of its own neck. 

 For, while it is being fed, there appears a temporary swelling 

 on its chest, which acts as a bib, and catches whatever trickles 

 down from the mouth. After swallowing the chief part of 

 the meal the grub gathers up the crumbs that have fallen 

 on its bib. Then the swelling disappears ; and the grub, 

 withdrawing a little way into its cell, resumes its sweet 

 slumbers. 



When fed in my cage the Wasp-grubs have their heads 

 up, and what falls from their mouths collects naturally on 

 their bibs. When fed in the nest they have their heads down. 

 But I have no doubt that even in this position the bib serves 

 its purpose. 



By slightly bending its head the grub can always deposit 

 on the projecting bib a portion of the overflowing mouthful, 

 which is sticky enough to remain there. Moreover, it is quite 

 possible that the nurse herself places a portion of her helping 

 on this spot. Whether it be above or below the mouth, 

 right way up or upside down, the bib fulfils its office because 

 of the sticky nature of the food. It is a temporary saucer 

 which shortens the work of serving out the rations, and enables 

 the grub to feed in a more or less leisurely fashion and without 

 too much gluttony. 



