The Great Cerceris 35 



selfsame places and in a mere fraction of time, 

 our Wasps would have found by the hundred 

 these insects undiscoverable by man ; and they 

 would have found them fresh and glossy, doubt- 

 less just issued from their nymphal cocoons 1 



No matter, let us see what we can do with 

 my pitiful bag. A Cerceris has just entered 

 her gallery with her usual prey ; before she 

 comes out again for a new expedition, I place 

 a Weevil a few inches from the hole. The 

 insect moves about ; when it strays too far, I 

 restore it to its position. At last the Cerceris 

 shows her wide face and emerges from the 

 hole ; my heart beats with excitement. The 

 Wasp stalks about the approaches to her home 

 for a few moments, sees the Weevil, brushes 

 against him, turns round, passes several times 

 over his back and flies away without honour- 

 ing my capture with a touch of her mandibles : 

 the capture which I was at such pains to 

 acquire. I am confounded, I am floored. 

 Fresh attempts at other holes lead to fresh dis- 

 appointments. Clearly these dainty sports- 

 women will have none of the game which I 

 offer them. Perhaps they find it uninterest- 

 ing, not fresh enough. Perhaps, by taking it 

 in my fingers, I have given it some odour 

 which they dislike. With these epicures a 

 mere alien touch is enough to produce disgust. 



