144 THE LIFE AND LOVE OF THE INSECT 



appearance of the female, powerfully equipped for her 

 severe task. That love-lorn idler, the male, is more 

 gracefully horned, more daintily clad, more elegantly 

 shaped, without altogether losing the character of sturdi- 

 ness which is the predominant feature in his mate. 



It is not without qualms that the insect-collector finds 

 himself for the first time in the presence of the Garden 

 Scolia. How is he to capture the commanding brute, 

 how to protect himself against its sting ? If the effect 

 of the sting be in proportion to the Hymenopteron's size, 

 then a prick from the Scolia is something to be dreaded. 

 The Hornet, once he lugs out, hurts us atrociously. What, 

 then, would it be like if one were stabbed by this colossus ? 

 The prospect of a swelling the size of your fist and as 

 painful as though it were blistered by a red-hot iron 

 passes through your mind, just as you are about to cast 

 the net. And you refrain, you beat a retreat, only too 

 glad not to have aroused the attention of the dangerous 

 animal. 



Yes, I confess to having quailed before my first Scolise, 

 eager though I was to enrich my incipient collection with 

 this glorious insect. Smarting recollections left behind 

 by the Wasp and the Hornet had something to say to this 

 excessive prudence. I say excessive, for to-day, taught 

 by long experience, I have got the better of my former 

 fears and, if I see a Scolia resting on a thistle-head, I have 

 no scruples about taking her in the tips of my fingers, 

 with no precaution of any kind, threatening though her 

 aspect be. My pluck is only apparent, as I am pleased to 

 inform the novice at Hymenopteron-hunting. The Scoliae 

 are very peaceful. Their sting is an implement of work 

 much rather than a weapon of war : they use it to paralyze 

 the prey intended for their family ; and only in the last 



