The Poison of the Bee 



to bleeding-point by the spike at the tip. Not 

 until to-morrow is the leg which wounded me 

 to-day rendered motionless. This time, the 

 paralysis goes no farther. The Mantis moves 

 along quite well, with her corselet proudly 

 raised, In her usual attitude; but the preda- 

 tory fore-arms, instead of being folded against 

 the chest, ready for attack, hang lifeless and 

 open. I keep the cripple for twelve days 

 longer, during which she refuses all nourish- 

 ment, being incapable of using her tongs to 

 seize the prey and lift it to her mouth. The 

 prolonged abstinence kills her. 



Some suffer from locomotor ataxy. My 

 notes recall an Ephippiger who, pricked in 

 the prothorax away from the median line, re- 

 tained the use of her six limbs without being 

 able to walk or climb for lack of coordination 

 in her movements. A singular awkwardness 

 left her wavering between going back and go- 

 ing forward, between turning to the right and 

 turning to the left. 



Some are smitten with semiparalysis. A 

 Cetonla-grub, pricked away from the centre 

 on a level with the fore-legs, has her right 

 side flaccid, spread out, incapable of contract- 

 ing, while the left side swells, wrinkles and 



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