Advanced Theories 1 1 1 



compatriots of the Kabyles and the Berbers 

 pursue the same game as their kindred in 

 Provence. I also see that a fourth species, 

 the African Sphex (5. afro), is the scourge of 

 the Locusts in the neighbourhood of Oran. 

 Lastly, I remember reading, I forget where, of 

 a fifth species which also wages war on Locusts 

 in the steppes near the Caspian. Thus, on the 

 borders of the Mediterranean, we have five 

 different species of Sphex, whose larvae all live 

 on a diet of Orthoptera. 



Now let us cross the equator and go right 

 down to the southern hemisphere, to the 

 islands of Mauritius and Reunion : we shall 

 here find not a Sphex, but a closely-allied Wasp 

 of the same tribe, the Compressed Chlorion, 

 hunting the horrible Kakerlak, that ravager 

 of the foodstuffs in the ships and harbours of 

 the colonies. These Kakerlaks are none other 

 than Cockroaches, whereof one species haunts 

 our dwellings. Who does not know the evil- 

 smelling insect, which, thanks to its flat body, 

 like that of a huge Bug, slips at night through 

 the gaps in furniture and the crannies of 

 partitions and invades any place containing 

 provisions to be devoured ? This is the Black- 

 beetle of our houses, a disgusting counterpart 

 of the no less disgusting prey beloved of the 

 Chlorion. What is there about the Kakerlak 



