THE SUBSTITUTE. 
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For their maggot young to live in. 
Sandwasps do not live in cities, 
But in solitude so cheerless, 
And away from all companions : 
You may see them in the meadows 
Catching flies, and even spiders — 
Justice vengeful, but poetic — 
And the Cimicina, bugflies;* 
These they numb with subtle poison, 
That deprives them of all motion, 
Yet seems scarcely to be fatal, 
So long they retain their freshness : 
Thus numbed, they poor things are carried 
By the predatory sandwasps. 
And safe stowed within their burrows, 
For the maggot young to feed on. 
Their antenn® always elbowed. 
Rather short and almost simple. 
Fore wings flat and never folded, 
Fore legs armed with spines for digging. 
Hind legs also spined, for lifting 
All the spiders, flies, and bugflies, 
That they carry to their burrows. 
Body nipped in at the middle. 
The waist thin and often threadlike. 
Such are sandwasps, or Sphecina, 
Sandwasps, woodwasps, or Sphecina. 
Watch the ant, thou little maiden ! 
Mark her labours and learn wisdom ! 
Need I tell thee, need I show thee, 
How she plies her ceaseless duty. 
How she excavates her dwellings, 
How she feeds her helpless oflTspring, 
How she tends them, how she loves them. 
How, in sunshine bright, she suns them. 
How she moves them when in danger, 
From a foe or passing shower. 
How she keeps the stolid plantlice, 
That her young may sip their honey? 
Watch the ant, thou gentle maiden ! 
Mark her wise ways, and learn wisdom ! 
Note her subterranean cities, 
Where the streets are thronged with passers. 
Where the kings and queens, and workers, 
All intent upon their duty, 
Meet in galleries and pathways, 
* Protesting against the altered name. 
