The Hallcti : a Parasite 



fill the platter each day. The Malictus mother 

 has not these domestic necessities, as her pro- 

 visions keep more easily; but still she might 

 well distribute a second portion of flour to the 

 larvae, when their appetite attains its height. 

 I can see nothing else to explain the open 

 doors of the cells during the feeding-period. 



At last the grubs, close-watched and fed 

 to repletion, have achieved the requisite de- 

 gree of fatness; they arc on the eve of being 

 transformed into pupa:?. Then and not till 

 then the cells are closed: a big clay stopper is 

 built by the mother into the spreading mouth 

 of the jug. Henceforth the maternal cares 

 are over. The rest will come of itself. 



Hitherto we have witnessed only the peace- 

 ful details of the housekeeping. Let us go 

 back a little and we shall be witnesses of ramp- 

 ant brigandage. In May, I visit my most 

 populous village daily, at about ten o'clock in 

 the morning, when the victualling-operations 

 are in full swing. Seated on a low chair in 

 the sun, with my back bent and my arms upon 

 my knees, I watch without moving, until din- 

 ner-time. What attracts me is a parasite, a 

 trumpery Gnat, the bold despoiler of the Ha- 

 lictus. 



377 



