The Am^nophilcB 249 



stem, pulled up slender grass rootlets and poked 

 her head under the little clods which she had 

 lifted. She ran hurriedly this way and that 

 around the thyme, inspecting every crevice 

 that could give access to what lay below. She 

 was not digging herself a home but hunting 

 some game hidden underground ; this was evi- 

 dent from her behaviour, which resembled that 

 of a Dog trying to dig a Rabbit out of his hole. 

 Presently, excited by what was happening over- 

 head and close-pressed by the Ammophila, a 

 big Grey Worm made up his mind to leave his 

 lair and come up to the light of day. That 

 settled him ; the huntress was on the spot at 

 once, gripping him by the skin of his neck and 

 holding tight in spite of his contortions. Perched 

 on the monster's back, the Wasp bent her 

 abdomen and deliberately, without hurrying, 

 like a surgeon thoroughly acquainted with his 

 patient's anatomy, drove her lancet into the 

 ventral surface of each of the victim's segments, 

 from the first to the last. Not a ring was left 

 without receiving a stab ; all, whether with 

 legs or without, were dealt with in order, from 

 front to back. 



That is what I saw with all the leisure and 

 ease that an observation needs in order to be 

 above reproach. The Wasp acts with a pre- 

 cision that would make science turn green with 



