1884.] 
527 
Insect Preferences. 
would be nearly,, it not altogether, extinguished, as no 
bounties the Continental Governments could afford to give 
then sugar manufacturers would enable them to compete 
with the manufacturers of cane sugar under these greatly 
improved conditions. 
III. INSECT PREFERENCES. 
By J. W. Slater. 
1S generally considered, and not by any means without 
grounds, that the Hymenoptera are of all inseCts the 
most cleanly in their persons and their habits. The 
social species, especially ants, hive-bees, and wasps, 
among other proofs of civilisation manifest some regard' to 
sanitary regulations. The Texas agricultural ant, according 
to Dr. McCook, summarily expels any dung-beetle which 
presumes to roll its ball of ordure upon the sacred pavement 
around its nest. Ants remove the bodies of their dead out- 
side the camp, and have even been known to give them 
formal burial. Wasps have been admired for their skill in 
snatching away flies from any offensive substance without 
soiling their own feet. Nevertheless faCts may be observed 
proving that these industrious and quick-tempered inseCts 
are not more consistent in their cleanliness than are man- 
kind. Civilised man preys on “ high” game, on the “trail” 
of the snipe, on sour-krout, and, what is infinitely worse, on 
“ eingelegte Bohnen ” — anglice, putrescent kidney beans. 
Surely, then, we may be tolerant if we find a wasp guilty of 
cannibalism, or of any other indelicacy. 
Walking lately around a pond near Aylesbury, for the 
purpose of observing the doings of the water inserts, I saw 
lying on the bank a dead perch, which might weigh about a 
pound. The fish was in a very offensive state, and over it 
hovered with querulous buzzings a flock of blowflies. Won- 
dering why they did not settle upon the perch and “ blow ” 
it, I looked more particularly, and saw that a party of wasps 
were in possession. They ran up and down upon the car- 
case, nibbling choice fragments about the gills, and tasting 
the juices. Hence the blowflies naturally kept aloof, fearing 
lest they might be seized and dismembered. Hence it 
