The Three Dagger-thrusts 85 



then their sting is much less painful than the 

 Bees'. 



One last word : we know how furiously the 

 Hymenoptera armed with a purely defensive 

 dart — the Social Wasps, for instance — rush upon 

 him who is bold enough to disturb their dwelling- 

 house and punish him for his temerity. On the 

 other hand, those whose sting is intended for 

 killing game are very pacific, as though they 

 were aware of the importance which the little 

 drop of poison in their phial possesses for their 

 family. This tiny drop is the safeguard of their 

 race, I might say, its livelihood ; and so they 

 are very economical in its use, reserving it for 

 the serious business of the chase, without any 

 parade of vindictive courage. I was not once 

 punished with a sting when I established my- 

 self amid the villages of our various Hunting 

 Wasps, though I overturned their nests and stole 

 the larvae and the provisions. You must lay 

 hold of the insect to make it use its weapon ; 

 and even then it does not ^always pierce the 

 skin, unless you place within its reach a part 

 more delicate than the fingers, such as, for 

 instance, the wrist. 



