PROVISION FOR REARING THE YOUNG. I3I 



the field. We cannot make instinct intervene here. 

 If the Spkex's acts are so automatic as we are some- 

 times led to believe, in accordance with facts which 

 are perfectly accurate, we ought always to observe the 

 following succession of acts : first, hollowing of the 

 burrow; second, the chase; third, the blows of the dart; 

 fourth, the different manoeuvres for placing the victim 

 in the sarcophagus. Now in the present case the insect 

 had accomplished the first three series of actions, and 

 had even begun the fourth ; it ought next to drag the 

 cricket into the burrow without listening to the 

 recriminations which the latter had no business to 

 make, since it was to be regarded as having received 

 the two routine doses of poison. But the Sphex sees 

 its victim come to life, understands this fact, and 

 without seeking to fathom the cause judges that a 

 new struggle and new blows of the sting are neces- 

 sary; he understands that it is necessary to begin 

 afresh, since the usual result has not been attained. 

 He is then capable of reflection, and the series of acts 

 which he accomplishes are not ordained with such 

 inflexibility that it is impossible for him to modify 

 them in order to conform them to varying circum- 

 stances. 



The Sphex occitanica acts in the same manner as 

 its relative in this complicated art of laying up pro- 

 visions for the family. The differences are only in 

 detail. Instead of hollowing the burrow first and 

 then setting out on the chase to fill it, it does not de- 

 vote itself to the labour of digging until a successful 

 expedition has already assured the victim. (Fig. 17.) 

 Instead of attacking crickets it seeks a larger ortho- 

 pterous insect, the Ephippigera. The struggle is no 

 doubt more difficult, but the result is proportionately 



