44 The Htintmg JVasps 



possess the properties of still palpitating flesh, 

 but something that shall be just as if it were 

 live prey, despite its complete inertia, the 

 learned congress, after due reflection, will fix 

 on paralysis : 



* Yes, that 's it, of course ! The creature 

 must be paralysed ; it must be deprived of 

 movement, without being deprived of life.' 



There is only one way of achieving this 

 result : to injure, cut or destroy the insect's 

 nervous system in one or more skilfully-selected 

 places. But, even at that stage, if left in hands 

 unfamiliar with the anatomical secrets of a 

 dehcate organism, the question would not have 

 advanced much further. What in fact is the 

 disposition of this nervous system which has 

 to be smitten if we would paralyse the insect 

 without at the same time killing it ? And, 

 first of all, where is it ? In the head, no doubt, 

 and down the back, like the brain and the 

 spinal marrow of the higher animals. 



' You make a grave mistake,' our congress 

 would say. ' The insect is like an inverted 

 animal, walking on its back ; that is to say, 

 instead of having the spinal marrow on the 

 top, it has it below, along the breast and the 

 belly. The operation on the insect to be para- 

 lysed must therefore be performed on the lower 

 surface and on that surface alone.' 



