The Volucella 



As they pass from cell to cell, the nurses 

 repeatedly brush against and stride across 

 the Volucella-grub. There is no doubt that 

 they see it. The intruder does not budge, 

 or, if trodden on, retires inside, only to re- 

 appear the next moment. Some of the 

 Wasps stop, bend their heads over the open- 

 ing, seem to be making enquiries and then 

 go off, without troubling further about the 

 state of things. One of them does some- 

 thing even more remarkable : she tries to give 

 a mouthful to the lawful occupant of the 

 cell; but the larva, which is being squeezed 

 by its visitor, has no appetite and refuses. 

 Without the least sign of anxiety on behalf 

 of the nurseling which she has seen in awk- 

 ward company, the Wasp retires and goes to 

 distribute her ration elsewhere. 



In vain I prolong my examination: there is 

 no fluster of any kind. The Volucella-grub 

 is treated as a friend, or at least as a visitor 

 that does not matter. There is no attempt 

 to dislodge it, to worry it, to put it to flight. 

 Nor does the grub seem to trouble greatly 

 about those who come and go. Its tran- 

 quillity tells us that it feels at home. 



Here is some further evidence: the grub 

 has plunged, head downwards, into an empty 

 cell, which is too small to contain the whole 

 307 



