The Langiiedocian Sphex 141 



by mutual example, but isolation in the par- 

 ticular spot where the chances of the day 

 have taken the Sphex, solitary labour, carried 

 on without animation though with unfailing 

 dihgence. First of all, the prey is sought for, 

 attacked, reduced to helplessness. Not until 

 after that does the digger trouble about the 

 burrow. A favourable place is chosen, as near 

 as possible to the spot where the victim lies, 

 so as to cut short the tedious work of transport ; 

 and the chamber of the future larva is rapidly 

 hollowed out and at once receives the egg and 

 the victuals. There you have an example of 

 the inverted method of the Languedocian Sphex, 

 a method, as all my observations go to prove, 

 diametrically opposite to that of the other 

 Hymenoptera. I will give some of the more 

 striking of these observations. 



When caught digging, the Languedocian 

 Sphex is always alone, sometimes at the bottom 

 of a dusty recess left by a stone that has dropped 

 out of an old wall, sometimes ensconced in the 

 shelter formed by a flat, projecting bit of sand- 

 stone, a shelter much sought after by the fierce 

 Eyed Lizard to serve as an entrance-hall to his 

 lair. The sun beats full upon it ; it is an oven. 

 The soil, consisting of old dust that has fallen 

 little by little from the roof, is very easy to dig. 

 The cell is soon scooped out with the mandibles, 



