The Hairy Amniophila 339 



4. Lastly, the Ammophila, opening the forceps 

 of her mandibles to their full width, seizes the 

 caterpillar's head and crunches it, squeezes it 

 with a series of leisurely movements, without 

 creating a wound. These squeezings follow 

 upon one another with deliberate slowness : the 

 insect seems to try each time to learn the effect 

 produced ; it stops, waits, and then resumes the 

 attack. This manipulation of the brain, to 

 attain the desired end, must have certain limits 

 which, if exceeded, would bring about death 

 and speedy putrefaction. And so the Wasp 

 regulates the force of her compressions, which, 

 moreover, are numerous : about a score, in all. 



The surgeon has finished. The patient lies 

 on the ground on its side, half doubled up. It 

 is motionless, lifeless, incapable of resistance 

 during the traction-process that is to bring it 

 home, unable to harm the grub that is to feed 

 upon it. The Ammophila leaves it at the place 

 where the operation was performed and goes 

 back to her nest. I follow her. She makes 

 certain improvements in view of the coming 

 storage. A pebble projecting from the roof 

 might impede the warehousing of the bulky 

 quarry. The lump is forthwith removed. A 

 rustle of grazed wings accompanies the arduous 

 task. The back-room is not large enough : it 

 is widened. The work is long-drawn-out ; and 



