The Cotton-bees 



will break in through the double rampart; but 

 he will make an insidious attack from the 

 rear. The Leucospis will come and, with her 

 long probe, thanks to some imperceptible fis- 

 sure in the tube, will insert her dread eggs 

 and destroy every single inhabitant of the 

 fortress. Thus are the Manicate Anthidi- 

 um's anxious precautions outwitted. 



If we had not already seen the same thing 

 with the Leaf-cutters, this would be the place 

 to enlarge upon the useless tasks undertaken 

 by the insect when, with its ovaries apparently 

 depleted, it goes on spending its strength with 

 no maternal object in view and for the sole 

 pleasure of work. I have come across several 

 reeds stopped up with flock though containing 

 nothing at all, or else furnished with one, two 

 or three cells devoid of provisions or eggs. 

 The ever-imperious instinct for gathering cot- 

 ton and felting it into purses and heaping it 

 into barricades persists, fruitlessly, until life 

 fails. The Lizard's tail wriggles, curls and 

 uncurls after it is detached from the animal's 

 body. In these reflex movements, I seem to 

 see not an explanation, certainly, but a rough 

 image of the industrious persistency of the 

 insect, still toiling away at its business, even 



285 



