The Three Dagger-thrusts 83 



poison consists of two prettily-ramified tubes, 

 ending separately in a common reservoir or 

 phial, shaped like a pea. From this phial starts 

 a slender channel which runs down the axis of 

 the sting and conducts the little drop of poison 

 to its tip. The dimensions of the lancet are 

 very small and not such as one would expect 

 from the size of the Sphex, and especially 

 from the effects which its prick produces on 

 the Crickets. The point is quite smooth and 

 entirely deprived of those backward indenta- 

 tions which we find in the Hive-bee's sting. The 

 reason for this is obvious. The Bee uses her 

 sting only to avenge an injury, even at the cost 

 of her life ; and the teeth of the dart resist its 

 withdrawal from the wound and thus cause 

 mortal ruptures in the viscera at the extremity 

 of the abdomen. What would the Sphex have 

 done with a weapon that would have been fatal 

 to her on her first expedition ? Supposing that 

 the dart could be withdrawn in spite of its 

 teeth, I doubt whether any Hymenopteron using 

 her weapon chiefly to wound the game destined 

 for her larvae would be supplied with a toothed 

 sting. With her, the dirk is not a show weapon, 

 unsheathed to satisfy revenge : revenge, the 

 so-called pleasure of the gods, but a very costly 

 pleasure, for the vindictive Bee sometimes pays 

 for it with her life ; it is an implement for use, 



