The Mason-Wasps 



shape of a pair of small fleshy nipples. 

 These worms, though of the same species, 

 to judge by their general characteristics, 

 differ in colouring. They are a pale, yel- 

 lowish green, with two wide longitudinal 

 stripes of pale pink in some and of a more 

 or less deep green in others. Between 

 these two stripes, on the back, runs a streak 

 of pale yellow. The whole body is 

 sprinkled with little black tubercles, each 

 bearing a hair on its crest. The absence of 

 legs proves that they are not caterpillars, 

 not the larvae of Butterflies or Moths. Ac- 

 cording to Audouin's experiments, Reau- 

 mur's " green grubs " are the larvae of a 

 Weevil, Phytonomus variabilis, an inhabi- 

 tant of the lucerne-fields. Can my worms, 

 pink or green, also belong to some little 

 Weevil? It is quite possible. 



Reaumur described the grubs composing 

 the victuals of his Odynerus as alive; he 

 tried to rear some, hoping to see a Fly or 

 a Beetle appear from them. Leon Dufour, 

 on his side, called them live caterpillars. 

 The mobility of the game provided escaped 

 neither of the two observers ; they had be- 

 fore their eyes grubs that moved about and 

 gave full signs of life. 



What they saw I also see. My little 



44 



