Chapter ix 



THE WISDOM OF INSTINCT 



To paralyse her prey, the Languedocian Sphex, 

 I have no doubt, pursues the method of the 

 Cricket-huntress and drives her lancet re- 

 peatedly into the Ephippiger's breast in order 

 to strike the ganglia of the thorax. The process 

 of wounding the nerve-centres must be familiar 

 to her ; and I am convinced beforehand of her 

 consummate skill in that scientific operation. 

 This is an art thoroughly known to all the 

 Hunting Wasps, who carry a poisoned dart 

 that has not been given them in vain. At the 

 same time, I must confess that I have never 

 yet succeeded in witnessing the deadly per- 

 formance. This omission is due to the solitary 

 life led by the Languedocian Sphex. 



When a number of burrows are dug on a 

 common site and then provisioned, one has but 

 to wait on the spot to see now one huntress and 

 now another arrive with the game which they 

 have caught. It is easy in these circumstances 

 to try upon the new arrivals the substitution of 



140 



