The Languedocian Sphex 143 



the booty lies, she set out to explore the neigh- 

 bourhood with the object of finding a suitable 

 site and there digging a burrow. Once the home 

 was ready, she came back to her prize, which 

 she found again without much hesitation, and 

 she now prepares to lug it home. She be- 

 strides the victim, seizes one or both of the 

 antennae, and off she goes, tugging and dragging 

 with all the strength of her loins and jaws. 



Sometimes she has only to make one journey ; 

 at other times and more often, the carter 

 suddenly plumps down her load and quickly 

 runs home. Perhaps it occurs to her that the 

 entrance-door is not wide enough to admit so 

 substantial a morsel ; perhaps she remembers 

 some lack of finish that might hamper the 

 storing. And, in point of fact, the worker does 

 touch up her work : she enlarges the doorway, 

 smooths the threshold, strengthens the ceiling. 

 It is all done with a few strokes of the tarsi. 

 Then she returns to the Ephippiger, lying 

 yonder, on her back, a few steps away. The 

 hauling begins again. On the road, the Sphex 

 seems struck with a new idea, which flashes 

 through her quick brain. She has inspected 

 the door, but has not looked inside. Who knows 

 if all is well in there ? She hastens to see, 

 dropping the Ephippiger before she goes. The 

 interior is inspected ; and apparently a few 



