126 THE INDUSTRIES OF ANIMALS. 



these insects are in fact large enough to supply a 

 considerable amount of nourishment. When the 

 SpJiex interrupts digging operations it is to fly on 

 a hunting expedition. It soon returns with a cricket 

 it has seized, holding it by one antenna which it turns 

 round in its jaws. It is a heavy burden for the slender 

 Sphex to bear. Sometimes on foot, dragging its 

 burden after it, sometimes flying, and carrying the 

 suspended cricket always in a passive condition, 

 the burrow is gradually I'eached, not without difficulty. 

 In spite of appearances, the cricket is not dead; it 

 cannot move, but if kept for several days it will not 

 putrefy, and its joints remain supple. It is simply the 

 victim of a general paralysis. 



Tlie cause of the paralysis. — It was evidently of the 

 greatest interest to know how the Sphex contrived 

 this capture, and what method it used to suppress the 

 movements of the prey. In order to obtain the 

 solution of this problem, Fabre during a long period 

 accumulated experiments and observations, and at 

 last discovered in every detail how the thing was done. 

 In order to compel the Sphex to act in his presence, he 

 placed himself in front of the orifice of a galleryin which 

 the insect was working ; he soon saw it return- 

 ing with a paralysed cricket. Arrived at the burrow, 

 the insect placed the prey on the ground for a moment 

 and disappeared in the passage to see that everything 

 was in order, and that no damage had taken place 

 since its departure. Everything was going well, and 

 it reappeared, took up its burden, and again entered 

 the subterranean passage, drawing the victim along. 

 It brought it into the chamber for which it was 

 destined, placing it on its back, the head down and 

 the feet towards the door. Then it set out hunting 



