Bramble-bees and Others 



obtain conditions similar to those of the vic- 

 tims of the predatory insects, that Is to say, 

 inertia with the persistence of a dull vitality 

 betrayed by the movements of the mouth- 

 parts and antennae. I am not invariably suc- 

 cessful, of course, for there is neither delicacy 

 nor precision in my poisoned needle and the 

 wound which It makes does not bear compari- 

 son with the tiny puncture of the unerring 

 natural sting; but, after all, it Is repeated 

 often enough to put the object of my experi- 

 ment beyond doubt. I should add that for 

 success we must have a subject with a con- 

 centrated ganglionic column, such as the Wee- 

 vil, the Buprestis-beetle, the Dung-beetle and 

 others. Paralysis Is then obtained with but a 

 single prick, made at the point which the 

 Cercerls-wasp has revealed to us, where the 

 corselet joins the rest of the thorax. In that 

 case, the least possible quantity of the acrid 

 liquid Is Instilled, a quantity too small to en- 

 danger the patient's life. With scattered 

 nervous centres, each requiring a separate 

 operation, this method Is Impracticable: the 

 victim would die of the excess of corrosive 

 fluid. I am quite ashamed to have to recall 

 these old experiments. Had they been re- 



340 



