The AmmophilcB 241 



is big, plump, capable of amply satisfying the 

 grub's appetite. For instance, I have taken 

 from the mandibles of the Sandy Ammophila a 

 caterpillar weighing fifteen times as much as its 

 captor : fifteen times, an enormous figure when 

 we consider the strength which the huntress 

 must expend in dragging game of this kind by 

 the skin of the neck over the countless obstacles 

 on the road. No other Wasp, tried in the 

 balance with her prey, has shown me a hke 

 disproportion between spoiler and booty. 



The almost indefinite variety of colouring in 

 the provisions which I unearth from the burrows 

 or see between the legs of the Ammophilse also 

 proves that the three brigands have no preference 

 and pounce upon the first caterpillar which 

 comes along, provided that it be of a suitable 

 size, neither too large nor too small, and that it 

 belongs to the Moth division. The commonest 

 game consists of those grey-clad caterpillars 

 which penetrate a little way into the ground and 

 devour the plant at the junction of root and 

 stem. 



What governs the whole history of the 

 Ammophilae and more particularly attracted 

 my attention is the manner in which the insect 

 overpowers its prey and reduces it to the con- 

 dition of helplessness which the safety of the 

 larva requires. The game hunted, the cater- 



Q 



