Bramble-bees and Others 



the nervous organism. There is a perfect 

 harmony between the operation and the pa- 

 tient's anatomy. 



The single stroke of the Scolia is no less 

 wonderful than the repeated strokes of the 

 Ammophila. Each has her appointed game 

 and each slays it by a method as rational as 

 any that our own science could invent. In the 

 presence of this consummate knowledge, 

 which leaves us utterly confounded, what a 

 poor argument is that of i + i = 2 ! And 

 what is that progress by units to us? The 

 universe is mirrored in a drop of water; uni- 

 versal logic flashes into sight in a single sting. 



Besides, push on the pitiful argument. One 

 leads to two, two lead to three. Granted 

 without dispute. And then? We will accept 

 the Scolia as the pioneer, the founder of the 

 first principles of the art. The simplicity of 

 her method justifies our supposition. She 

 learns her trade in some way or other, by acci- 

 dent; she knows supremely well how to para- 

 lyse her Cetonia-grub with a single dagger- 

 thrust driven into the thorax. One day, 

 through some fortuitous circumstance, or 

 rather by mistake, she takes it into her head 

 to strike two blows. As one is enough for 



36a 



