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Advanced Theories 125 



its guard and flies away, while the kidnapper's 

 impetus brings her up with a bump against the 

 deserted flower. Then the pursuit continues in 

 the air, as though a Sparrow-hawk were chasing 

 a Lark. But the Bee and the Eristalis, by 

 taking brisk turns, soon baffle the attempts of 

 the Wasp, who resumes her evolutions above 

 the clustering blossoms. At last, sooner or 

 later, some quarry less quick at flight is cap- 

 tured. Forthwith, the Common Wasp drops on 

 to the lawn with her Eristalis ; I also instantly 

 lie on the ground, quietly removing with my 

 hands the dead leaves and bits of grass that 

 might interfere with my view ; and I witness 

 the following tragedy, if I have taken proper 

 precautions not to scare the huntress. 



First, there is a wild struggle in the tangle 

 of the grass between the Wasp and the Eris- 

 talis, who is bigger than her assailant. The 

 Fly is unarmed, but powerful ; a shrill buzz of 

 her wings tells of her desperate resistance. The 

 Wasp carries a dagger ; but she does not under- 

 stand the methodical use of it, is unacquainted 

 with the vulnerable points so well known to 

 the marauders who need a prey that keeps 

 fresh for long. What her nurselings want is a 

 mess of Flies that moment reduced to pulp ; 

 and, so long as this is achieved, the Wasp cares 

 Uttle how the game is killed. The sting there- 



