The Odyneri 



game, which is also more vigorous; but this 

 is attacked without danger, because the 

 larva's own strength has come. 



This progress from the more to the less 

 nearly mortified victims presumes that the 

 grubs do not disturb the order in which they 

 have been stacked. That in fact is what 

 happens. Former historians of the Ody- 

 neri have all remarked that the grubs pro- 

 vided for the larva are curled in the shape 

 of a ring: 



" The cell," says Reaumur, " was occu- 

 pied by green rings, to the number of eight 

 or twelve. Each of these rings consisted 

 of a vermiform larva, alive, curled up and 

 with its back fitting exactly against the wall 

 of the hole. These grubs, laid in this way 

 one on top of the other and even pressed 

 together, had no liberty of movement." 



I, in my turn, remark similar facts in my 

 two dozen grub-worms. They are curled 

 in a ring; they are stacked one upon an- 

 other, but with a certain confusion in the 

 ranks; their backs touch the wall. I will 

 not attribute this circular curve to the effect 

 of the sting which was very probably ad- 

 ministered, for I have never observed it in 

 53 



