CHAPTER6。THETACHYTES。
ThefamilyofWaspswhosenameIinscribeattheheadofthischapterhasnothitherto，sofarasIknow，mademuchnoiseintheworld。Itsannalsarelimitedtomethodicalclassifications，whichmakeverypoorreading。
Thehappynations，mensay，arethosewhichhavenohistory。Iacceptthis，butIalsoadmitthatitispossibletohaveahistorywithoutceasingtobehappy。IntheconvictionthatIshallnotdisturbitsprosperity，Iwilltrytosubstitutetheliving，movinginsectfortheinsectimpaledinacork-bottomedbox。
Ithasbeenadornedwithalearnedname，derivedfromtheGreekTachytes，meaningrapidity，suddenness，speed。Thecreature\'sgodfather，aswesee，hadasmatteringofGreek；itsdenominationisnonethelessunfortunate:
intendedtoinstructusbymeansofacharacteristicfeature，thenameleadsusastray。Whyisspeedmentionedinthisconnection？Whyalabelwhichpreparesthemindforanexceptionalvelocityandannouncesaraceofpeerlesscoursers？NimblediggersofburrowsandeagerhunterstheTachytesare，tobesure，buttheyarenobetterthanahostofrivals。NottheSphex，northeAmmophila，northeBembex，normanyanotherwouldadmitherselfbeatenineitherflyingorrunning。Atthenesting-season，allthistinyworldofhuntressesisfilledwithastoundingactivity。Thequalityofaspeedyworkerbeingcommontoall，nonecanboastofittotheexclusionoftherest。
HadIhadavotewhentheTachyteswaschristened，Ishouldhavesuggestedashort，harmonious，well-soundingname，meaningnothingelsethanthethingmeant。Whatbetter，forexample，thanthetermSphex？Theearissatisfiedandthemindisnotcorruptedbyaprejudice，asourceoferrortothebeginner。IhavenotnearlyasmuchlikingforAmmophila，whichrepresentsasaloverofthesandsananimalwhoseestablishmentscallforcompactsoil。Inshort，ifIhadbeenforced，atallcosts，toconcoctabarbarousappellationoutofLatinorGreekinordertorecallthecreature\'sleadingcharacteristic，Ishouldhaveattemptedtosay，apassionateloveroftheLocust。
LoveoftheLocust，inthebroadersenseoftheOrthopteron，anexclusive，intolerantlove，handeddownfrommothertodaughterwithafidelitywhichthecenturiesfailtoimpair，this，yes，thisindeeddepictstheTachyteswithgreateraccuracythananamesmackingoftherace-course。TheEnglishmanhashisroast-beef；theGermanhissauerkraut；theRussianhiscaviare；theNeapolitanhismacaroni；thePiedmontesehispolenta；themanofCarpentrashistian。TheTachyteshasherLocust。HernationaldishisalsothatoftheSphex，withwhomIboldlyassociateher。Themethodicalclassifier，whoworksincemeteriesandseemstoflythelivingcities，keepsthetwofamiliesfarremovedfromeachotherbecauseofconsiderationsandattachingtothenervuresofthewingsandthejointsofthepalpi。Attheriskofpassingforaheretic，Ibringthemtogetheratthesuggestionofthemenu-card。
Tomyownknowledge，mypartofthecountrypossessesfivespecies，oneandalladdictedtoadietofOrthoptera。Panzer\'sTachytes(T。Panzeri，VAN
DERLIND)，girdledwithredatthebaseoftheabdomen，mustbeprettyrare。Isurpriseherfromtimetotimeworkingonthehardroadsidebanksandthetroddenedgesofthefootpaths。There，toadepthofaninchatmost，shedigsherburrows，eachisolatedfromtherest。Herpreyisanadult，medium-sizedAcridian(LocustorGrasshopper——Translator\'sNote。)，suchastheWhite-bandedSphexpursues。Thecaptiveoftheonewouldnotbedespisedbytheother。Grippedbytheantennae，accordingtotheritualoftheSphex，thevictimistrailedalongonfootandlaidbesidethenest，withtheheadpointingtowardstheopening。Thepit，preparedinadvance，isclosedforthetimebeingwithatinyflagstoneandsomebitsofgravel，inordertoavoideithertheinvasionofapasser-byorobstructionbylandslipsduringthehuntress\'absence。AlikeprecautionistakenbytheWhite-bandedSphex。Bothobservethesamedietandthesamecustoms。
TheTachytesclearstheentrancetothehomeandgoesinalone。Shereturns，putsoutherheadand，seizingherpreybytheantennae，warehousesitbydraggingbackwards。Ihaverepeated，atherexpense，thetrickswhichIusedtoplayontheSphex。(Fortheauthor\'sexperimentswiththeLanguedocian，theYellow-wingedandtheWhite-edgedSphex，cf。
“TheHuntingWasps“:chapter11——Translator\'sNote。)WhiletheTachytesisunderground，Imovethegameaway。Theinsectcomesupagainandseesnothingatitsdoor；itcomesoutandgoestofetchitsLocust，whomitplacesinpositionasbefore。Thisdone，itgoesinagainbyitself。InitsabsenceIoncemorepullbacktheprey。FreshemergenceoftheWasp，whoputsthingstorightsandpersistsingoingdownagain，stillbyherself，howeveroftenIrepeattheexperiment。Yetitwouldbeveryeasyforhertoputanendtomyteasing:shewouldonlyhavetodescendstraightwaywithhergame，insteadofleavingitforamomentonherdoorstep。But，faithfultotheusagesofherrace，shebehavesasherancestorsbehavedbeforeher，eventhoughtheancientcustomhappentobeunprofitable。LiketheYellow-
wingedSphex，whomIhaveteasedsooftenduringhercellaring-operations，sheisanarrowconservative，learningnothingandforgettingnothing。
Letusleavehertodoherworkinpeace。TheLocustdisappearsundergroundandtheeggislaiduponthebreastoftheparalysedinsect。Thatisall:
onecarcaseforeachcell，nomore。Theentranceisstoppedatlast，firstwithstones，whichwillpreventthetricklingoftheembankmentintothechamber；nextwithsweepingsofdust，underwhicheveryvestigeofthesubterraneanhousedisappears。Itisnowdone:theTachyteswillcomeherenomore。Otherburrowswilloccupyher，distributedatthewhimofhervagabondhumour。
Acellprovisionedbeforemyeyesonthe22ndofAugust，inoneofthewallsintheharmas，containedthefinishedcocoonaweeklater。(Theharmaswasthepieceofenclosedwastelandinwhichtheauthorusedtostudyhisinsectsintheirnaturalstate。Cf。“TheLifeoftheFly，“byJ。
HenriFabre，translatedbyAlexanderTeixeiradeMattos:chapter1——
Translator\'sNote。)Ihavenotnotedmanyexamplesofsorapidadevelopment。Thiscocoonrecalls，initsshapeandtexture，thatoftheBembex-wasps。Itishardandmineralized，thisistosay，thewarpandwoofofsilkarehiddenbyathickencrustationofsand。Thiscompositestructureseemstomecharacteristicofthefamily；atalleventsIfinditinthethreespecieswhosecocoonsIknow。IftheTachytesarenearlyrelatedtotheSphegesindiet，theyarefarremovedfromthemintheindustryoftheirlarvae。Thefirstareworkersinmosaic，encrustinganetworkofsilkandsand；thesecondweavepuresilk。
Ofsmallersizeandcladinblackwithtrimmingsofsilverydownontheedgeoftheabdominalsegments，theTarsalTachytesfrequentstheledgesofsoftlimestoneinfairlypopulouscolonies。(T。tarsina，LEP。)(AccordingtoM。J。Perez，towhomIsubmittedtheWaspofwhichIamabouttospeak，thisTachytesmightwellbeanewspecies，ifitisnotLepelletier\'sT。
tarsinaoritsequivalent，Panzer\'sT。unicolor。Anyonewishingtoclearupthispointwillalwaysrecognizethequarrelsomeinsectbyitsbehaviour。AminutedescriptionseemsuselesstomeinthetypeofinvestigationwhichIampursuing——Author\'sNote。)AugustandSeptemberaretheseasonofherlabours。Herburrows，veryclosetooneanotherwhenaneasily-workedveinpresentsitself，affordanampleharvestofcocoonsoncethesiteisdiscovered。Inacertaingravel-pitintheneighbourhood，withverticalwallsvisitedbythesun，Ihavebeenablewithinashortspaceoftimetocollectenoughtofillthehollowofmyhandcompletely。
Theydifferfromthecocoonsoftheprecedingspeciesonlyintheirsmallersize。TheprovisionsconsistofyoungAcridians，varyingfromaboutaquartertohalfaninchinlength。Theadultinsectdoesnotappearintheassortedbagsofgame，beingnodoubttootoughforthefeeblegrub。AllthecarcasesconsistofLocust-larvae，whosebuddingwingsleavethebackuncoveredandputoneinmindoftheshortskirtsofaskimpyjacket。Smallsothatitmaybetender，thegameisnumeroussothatitmaysufficeallneeds。Icountfromtwotofourcarcasestoacell。Whenthetimecomeswewilldiscoverthereasonforthesedifferencesintherationsserved。
TheMantis-killingTachyteswearsaredscarf，likeherkinswoman，Panzer\'sTachytes。(TheMantis-huntingTachyteswassubmittedtoexaminationbyM。
J。Perez，whofailedtorecognizeher。Thisspeciesmaywellbenewtoourfauna。IconfinemyselftocallinghertheMantis-killingTachytesandleavetothespecialiststhetaskofadorningherwithaLatinname，ifitbereallythefactthattheWaspisnotyetcatalogued。Iwillbebriefinmydelineation。Tomythinkingthebestdescriptionisthis:mantis-hunter。
Withthisinformationitisimpossibletomistaketheinsect，inmydistrictofcourse。Imayaddthatitisblack，withthefirsttwoabdominalsegments，thelegsandthetarsiarustyred。Cladinthesameliveryandmuchsmallerthanthefemale，themaleisremarkableforhiseyes，whichareofabeautifullemon-yellowwhenheisalive。Thelengthisnearlyhalfaninchforthefemaleandalittlemorethanhalfthisforthemale——Author\'sNote。)Idonotthinkthatsheisverywidelydistributed。
ImadeheracquaintanceintheSerignanwoods，wheresheinhabits，orratherusedtoinhabit——forIfearthatIhavedepopulatedandevendestroyedthecommunitybymyrepeatedexcavations——wheresheusedtoinhabitoneofthoselittlemoundsofsandwhichthewindheapsupagainsttherosemaryclumps。Outsidethissmallcommunity，Ineversawheragain。
Herhistory，richinincident，willbegivenwithallthedetailwhichitdeserves。Iwillconfinemyselfforthemomenttomentioningherrations，whichconsistofMantis-larvae，thoseofthePrayingMantispredominating。
(Cf。“TheLifeoftheGrasshopper“:chapters6to9——Translator\'sNote。)
Mylistsrecordfromthreetosixteenheadsforeachcell。Onceagainwenoteagreatinequalityofrations，thereasonforwhichwemusttrytodiscover。
WhatshallIsayoftheBlackTachytes(T。nigra，VANDERLIND)thatIhavenotalreadysaidintellingthestoryoftheYellow-wingedSphex？(“TheHuntingWasps“:chapters4to6——Translator\'sNote。)IhavetheredescribedhercontestswiththeSphex，whoseburrowsheseemstometohaveusurped；IshowherdraggingalongtherutsintheroadsaparalysedCricket，seizedbythehauling-ropes，hisantennae；Ispeakofherhesitations，whichleadmetosuspectherforahomelessvagabond，andfinallyonhersurrenderofhergame，withwhichsheseemsatoncesatisfiedandembarrassed。SaveforthedisputewiththeSphex，anuniqueeventinmyrecordsasobserver，Ihaveseenalltherestmanyatime，butneveranythingmore。TheBlackTachytes，thoughthemostfrequentofallinmyneighbourhood，remainsariddletome。Iknownothingofherdwelling，herlarvae，hercocoons，herfamily-arrangements。AllthatIcanaffirm，judgingbytheinvariablenatureofthepreywhichoneseesherdraggingalong，isthatshemustfeedherlarvaeonthesamenon-adultCricketthattheYellow-wingedSphexchoosesforhers。
Issheapoacher，apillagerofother\'sproperty，oragenuinehuntress？Mysuspicionsarepersistent，thoughIknowhowcharyamanshouldbeofsuspicions。AtonetimeIhadmydoubtsaboutPanzer\'sTachytes，whomI
grudgedapreytowhichtheWhite-bandedSphexmighthavelaidclaim。To-
dayIhavenosuchdoubts:sheisanhonestworkerandhergameisreallytheresultofherhunting。Whilewaitingforthetruthtoberevealedandmysuspicionssetaside，IwillcompletethelittlethatIknowofherbynotingthattheBlackTachytespassesthewinterintheadultformandawayfromhercell。Shehibernates，liketheHairyAmmophila。Inwarm，shelteredplaces，withlow，perpendicular，barebanks，deartotheWasps，Iamcertainoffindingheratanytimeduringthewinter，howeverbrieflyI
investigatetheearthensurface，riddledwithgalleries。IfindtheTachytescoweringsinglyinthehotovenformedbytheendofatunnel。Ifthetemperaturebemildandtheskyclear，sheemergesfromherretreatinJanuaryandFebruaryandcomestothesurfaceofthebanktoseewhetherspringismakingprogress。Whentheshadowsfallandtheheatdecreases，shereentersherwinter-quarters。
TheAnathemaTachytes(T。anathema，VANDERLIND)，thegiantofherrace，almostaslargeastheLanguedocianSphexand，likeher，decoratedwitharedscarfroundthebaseoftheabdomen，israrerthananyofhercongeners。Ihavecomeuponheronlysomefourorfivetimes，asanisolatedindividualandalwaysincircumstanceswhichwilltellusofthenatureofhergamewithaprobabilitythatcomesveryneartocertainty。
Shehuntsunderground，liketheScoliae。InSeptemberIseehergodownintothesoil，whichhasbeenloosenedbyarecentlightshower；themovementoftheearthturnedoverkeepsmeinformedofhersubterraneanprogress。SheisliketheMole，ploughingthroughameadowinpursuitofhisWhiteWorm。Shecomesoutfartheron，nearlyayardfromthespotatwhichshewentin。Thislongjourneyundergroundhastakenheronlyafewminutes。
Isthisduetoextraordinarypowersofexcavationonherpart？Bynomeans:
theAnathemaTachytesisanenergetictunneller，nodoubt，but，afterall，isincapableofperformingsogreatalabourinsoshortatime。Iftheundergroundworkerissoswiftinherprogress，itisbecausethetrackfollowedhasalreadybeencoveredbyanother。Thetrailisreadyprepared。
Wewilldescribeit，foritisclearlydefinedbeforetheinterventionoftheWasp。
Onthesurfaceoftheground，foralengthoftwopacesatmost，runsasinuousline，abeadingofcrumbledsoil，roughlythewidthofmyfinger。
>Fromthislineoframifications(others)shootouttoleftandright，muchshorterandirregularlydistributed。Oneneednotbeagreatentomologicalscholartorecognize，atthefirstglance，inthesepadsofraisedearth，thetrailofaMole-cricket，theMoleamonginsects。ItistheMole-cricketwho，seekingforaroottosuither，hasexcavatedthewindingtunnel，withinvestigation-galleriesgraftedtoeithersideofthemainroad。Thepassageisfreetherefore，oratmostblockedbyafewlandslips，ofwhichtheTachyteswilleasilydispose。Thisexplainsherrapidjourneyunderground。
Butwhatdoesshedothere？Forsheisalwaysthere，inthefewobservationswhichchanceaffordsme。AsubterraneanexcursionwouldnotattracttheWaspifithadnoobject。Anditsobjectiscertainlythesearchforsomesortofgameforherlarvae。Theinferencebecomesinevitable:theAnathemaTachytes，whoexplorestheMole-cricket\'sgalleries，givesherlarvaethissameMole-cricketastheirfood。Veryprobablythespecimenselectedisayoungone，fortheadultinsectwouldbetoobig。Besides，tothisconsiderationofquantityisaddedthatofquality。Youngandtenderfleshishighlyappreciated，aswitnesstheTarsalTachytes，theBlackTachytesandtheMantis-killingTachytes，whoallthreeselectgamethatisnotyetmadetoughbyage。ItgoeswithoutsayingthatthemomentthehuntressemergedfromthegroundIproceededtodigupthetrack。TheMole-cricketwasnolongerthere。TheTachyteshadcometoolate；andsohadI。
Well，howrightwasItodefinetheTachytesasaLocustlover！Whatconstancyinthegastronomicrulesoftherace！Andwhattactinvaryingthegame，whilekeepingwithintheorderoftheOrthoptera！WhathavetheLocust，theCricket，thePrayingMantisandtheMole-cricketincommon，asregardstheirgeneralappearance？Why，absolutelynothing！Noneofus，ifhewereunfamiliarwiththedelicateassociationsdictatedbyanatomy，wouldthinkofclassingthemtogether。TheTachytes，ontheotherhand，makesnomistake。Guidedbyherinstinct，whichrivalsthescienceofaLatreille，shegroupsthemalltogether。(PierreAndreLatreille(1762-
1833)，oneofthefoundersofentomologicalscience，aprofessorattheMuseed\'histoirenaturelleandmemberoftheAcademiedessciences——
Translator\'sNote。)
Thisinstinctivetaxonomybecomesmoresurprisingstillifweconsiderthevarietyofthegamestoredinasingleburrow。TheMantis-killingTachytes，forinstance，preysindiscriminatelyuponalltheMantidesthatoccurinherneighbourhood。Iseeherwarehousingthreeofthem，theonlyvarieties，infact，thatIknowinmydistrict。Theyarethefollowing:thePrayingMantis(M。religiosa，LIN。)，theGreyMantis(Amelesdecolor，CHARP。(Cf。
“TheLifeoftheGrasshopper“:chapter10——Translator\'sNote。))andtheEmpusa(E。pauperata，LATR。(Cf。idem:chapter9——Translator\'sNote。))。
ThenumericalpredominanceintheTachytes\'cellsbelongstothePrayingMantis；andtheGreyMantisoccupiessecondplace。TheEmpusa，whoiscomparativelyrareonthebrushwoodintheneighbourhood，isalsorareinthestore-housesoftheWasp；neverthelessherpresenceisrepeatedoftenenoughtoshowthatthehuntressappreciatesthevalueofthispreywhenshecomesacrossit。Thethreesortsofgameareinthelarvalstate，withrudimentarywings。Theirdimensions，whichvaryagooddeal，fluctuatebetweentwo-fifthsandfour-fifthsofaninchinlength。
ThePrayingMantisisabrightgreen；sheboastsanelongatedprothoraxandanalertgait。TheotherMantisisash-grey。Herprothoraxisshortandhermovementsheavy。Thecolorationthereforeisnoguidetothehuntress，anymorethanthegait。Thegreenandthegrey，theswiftandtheslowareunabletobaffleherperspicacity。Toher，despitethegreatdifferenceinappearance，thetwovictimsareMantes。Andsheisright。
ButwhatarewetosayoftheEmpusa？Theinsectworld，atalleventsinourparts，containsnomorefantasticcreature。Thechildrenhere，whoareremarkableforfindingnameswhichreallydepicttheanimal，callthelarva“theDevilkin。“Itisindeedaspectre，adiabolicalphantomworthyofthepencilofaCallot。(JacquesCallot(1592-1635)，theFrenchengraverandpainter，famousforthegrotesquenatureofhissubjects——Translator\'sNote。)Thereisnothingtobeatitintheextravagantmedleyoffiguresinhis“TemptationofSaintAnthony。“Itsflatabdomen，scallopedattheedges，risesintoatwistedcrook；itspeakedheadcarriesonthetoptwolarge，divergent，tusk-shapedhorns；itssharp，pointedface，whichcanturnandlooktoeitherside，wouldfitthewilypurposeofsomeMephistopheles；itslonglegshavecleaver-likeappendagesatthejoints，similartothearm-pieceswhichtheknightsofoldusedtobearupontheirelbows。Perchedhighupontheshanksofitsfourhind-legs，withitsabdomencurled，itsthoraxraisederect，itsfront-legs，thetrapsandimplementsofwarfare，foldedagainstitschest，itswayslimplyfromsidetoside，onthetipofthebough。
Anyoneseeingitforthefirsttimeinitsgrotesqueposewillgiveastartofsurprise。TheTachytesknowsnosuchalarm。Ifshecatchessightofit，sheseizesitbytheneckandstabsit。Itwillbeatreatforherchildren。HowdoesshemanagetorecognizeinthisspectrethenearrelationofthePrayingMantis？Whenfrequenthunting-expeditionshavefamiliarizedherwiththelast-namedandsuddenly，inthemidstofthechase，sheencounterstheDevilkin，howdoesshebecomeawarethatthisstrangefindmakesyetanotherexcellentadditiontoherlarder？Thisquestion，Ifear，willneverreceiveanadequatereply。Otherhuntresseshavealreadysetustheproblem；otherswillsetittousagain。Ishallreturntoit，nottosolveit，buttoshowevenmoreplainlyhowobscureandprofounditis。ButwewillfirstcompletethestoryoftheMantis-
killingTachytes。
ThecolonywhichformsthesubjectofmyinvestigationsisestablishedinamoundoffinesandwhichImyselfcutinto，acoupleofyearsago，inordertounearthafewBembexlarvae。TheentrancestotheTachytes\'dwellingopenuponthelittleuprightbankofthesection。AtthebeginningofJulytheworkisinfullswing。Itmusthavebeengoingonalreadyforaweekortwo，forIfindveryforwardlarvae，aswellasrecentcocoons。Therearehere，diggingintothesandorreturningfromexpeditionswiththeirbooty，somehundredfemales，whoseburrows，allveryclosetooneanother，coveranareaofbarelyasquareyard。Thishamlet，smallinextent，butneverthelessdenselypopulated，showsustheMantis-slayerunderamoralaspectwhichisnotsharedbytheLocustslayer，Panzer\'sTachytes，whoresembleshersocloselyincostume。Thoughengagedinindividualtasks，thefirstseeksthesocietyofherkind，asdocertainoftheSphex-wasps，whilethesecondestablishesherselfinsolitude，afterthefashionoftheAmmophila。Neitherthepersonalformnorthenatureoftheoccupationdeterminessociability。
Crouchingvoluptuouslyinthesun，onthesandatthefootofthebank，themalesliewaitingforthefemales，toplaguethemastheypass。Theyareardentlovers，butcutapoorfigure。Theirlineardimensionsarebarelyhalfthoseoftheothersex，whichimpliesavolumeonlyone-eighthasgreat。Atashortdistancetheyappeartowearontheirheadsasortofgaudyturban。Atclosequartersthisheadgearisseentoconsistoftheeyes，whichareverylargeandabrightlemon-yellowandwhichalmostentirelysurroundthehead。
Atteno\'clockinthemorning，whentheheatbeginstogrowintolerabletotheobserver，thereisacontinualcomingandgoingbetweentheburrowsandthetuftsofgrass，everlasting，thymeandwormwood，whichconstitutetheTachytes\'hunting-groundswithinamoderateradius。ThejourneyissoshortthattheWaspbringshergamehomeonthewing，usuallyinasingleflight。
Sheholdsitbythefore-part，averyjudiciousprecaution，whichisfavourabletorapidstowageinthewarehouse，forthentheMantis\'legsstretchbackwards，alongtheaxisofthebody，insteadoffoldingandprojectingsideways，whentheirresistancewouldbedifficulttoovercomeinanarrowgallery。Thelankypreydanglesbeneaththehuntress，alllimp，lifelessandparalysed。TheTachytes，stillflying，alightsonthethresholdofthehomeandimmediately，contrarytothecustomofPanzer\'sTachytes，enterswithherpreytrailingbehindher。Itisnotunusualforamaletocomeuponthesceneatthemomentofthemother\'sarrival。Heispromptlysnubbed。Thisisthetimeforwork，notforamusement。Therebuffedmaleresumeshispostasawatcherinthesun；andthehousewifestowsherprovisions。
Butshedoesnotalwaysdosowithouthindrance。Letmerecountoneofthemisadventuresofthisworkofstorage。Thereisintheneighbourhoodoftheburrowsaplantwhichcatchesinsectswithglue。ItistheOportosilene(S。portensis)，acuriousgrowth，aloverofthesea-sidedunes，which，thoughofPortugueseorigin，asitsnamewouldseemtoindicate，venturesinland，evenasfarasmypartofthecountry，whereitrepresentsperhapsasurvivorofthecoastalfloraofwhatwasonceaPliocenesea。Theseahasdisappeared；afewplantsofitsshoreshaveremainedbehind。ThisSilenecarriesinmostofitsinternodes，inthosebothofthebranchesandofthemainstalk，aviscousring，two-tofour-fifthsofaninchwide，sharplydelimitedaboveandbelow。Thecoatingofglueisofapalebrown。
Itsstickinessissogreatthattheleasttouchisenoughtoholdtheobject。IfindMidges，Plant-liceandAntscaughtinit，aswellastuftedseedswhichhaveblownfromthecapitulaoftheCichoriaceae。AGad-fly，asbigasaBluebottle，fallsintothetrapbeforemyeyes。Shehasbarelyalightedontheperilousperchwhenlo，sheisheldbythehindertarsi！
TheFlymakesviolenteffortstotakewing；sheshakestheslenderplantfromtoptobottom。Ifshefreesherhindertarsisheremainssnaredbythefronttarsiandhastobeginalloveragain。Iwasdoubtingthepossibilityofherescapewhen，afteragoodquarterofanhour\'sstruggle，shesucceededinextricatingherself。
But，wheretheGad-flyhasgotoff，theMidgeremains。ThewingedAphisalsoremains，theAnt，theMosquitoandmanyanotherofthesmallerinsects。Whatdoestheplantdowithitscaptures？Ofwhatusearethesetrophiesofcorpseshangingbyalegorawing？Doesthevegetablebird-
limer，withitsstickyrings，deriveadvantagefromthesedeath-struggles？
ADarwinian，rememberingthecarnivorousplants，wouldsayyes。Asforme，Idon\'tbelieveawordofit。TheOportosileneisringedwithbandsofgum。Why？Idon\'tknow。Insectsarecaughtinthesesnares。Ofwhatusearetheytotheplant？Why，noneatall；andthat\'sallaboutit。Ileavetoothers，bolderthanmyself，thefantasticideaoftakingtheseannularexudationsforadigestivefluidwhichwillreducethecapturedMidgestosoupandmakethemservetofeedtheSilene。OnlyIwarnthemthattheinsectsstickingtotheplantdonotdissolveintobroth，butshrivel，quiteuselessly，inthesun。
LetusreturntotheTachytes，whoisalsoavictimofthevegetablesnare。
Withasuddenflight，ahuntressarrives，carryingherdroopingprey。ShegrazestheSilene\'slime-twigstooclosely。BeholdtheMantiscaughtbytheabdomen。FortwentyminutesatleasttheWasp，stillonthewing，tugsather，tuggingagainandagain，toovercomethecauseofthehitchandreleasethespoil。Thehauling-method，acontinuationoftheflight，comestonothing；andnootherisattempted。AtlasttheinsectweariesandleavestheMantishangingtotheSilene。
NoworneverwasthemomentfortheinterventionofthattinyglimmerofreasonwhichDarwinsogenerouslygrantstoanimals。Donot，ifyouplease，confoundreasonwithintelligence，aspeoplearetoopronetodo。Idenytheone；andtheotherisincontestable，withinverymodestlimits。Itwas，Isaid，themomenttoreasonalittle，todiscoverthecauseofthehitchandtoattackthedifficultyatitssource。FortheTachytesthematterwasofthesimplest。Shehadbuttograbthebodybytheskinoftheabdomenimmediatelyabovethespotcaughtbytheglueandtopullittowardsher，insteadofperseveringinherflightwithoutreleasingtheneck。Simplethoughthismechanicalproblemwas，theinsectwasunabletosolveit，becauseshewasnotabletotracetheeffectbacktothecause，becauseshedidnotevensuspectthatthestoppagehadacause。
Antsdotingonsugarandaccustomedtocrossafoot-bridgeinordertoreachthewarehouseareabsolutelypreventedfromdoingsowhenthebridgeisinterruptedbyaslightgap。Theywouldonlyneedafewgrainsofsandtofillthevoidandrestorethecauseway。Theydonotforamomentdreamofit，pluckynavviesthoughtheybe，capableofraisingminiaturemountainsofexcavatedsoil。Wecangetthemtogiveusanenormousconeofearth，aninstinctivepieceofwork，butweshallneverobtainthejuxtapositionofthreegrainsofsand，areasonedpieceofwork。TheAntdoesnotreason，anymorethantheTachytes。
IfyoubringupatameFoxandsethisplatteroffoodbeforehim，thiscreatureofathousandtricksconfineshimselftotuggingwithallhismightattheleashwhichkeepshimasteportwofromhisdinner。HepullsastheTachytespulls，exhaustshimselfinfutileeffortsandthenliesdown，withhislittleeyesleeringfixedlyatthedish。Whydoeshenotturnround？Thiswouldincreasehisradius；andhecouldreachthenthefoodwithhishind-footandpullittowardshim。Theideaneveroccurstohim。Yetanotheranimaldeprivedofreason。
FriendBull，myDog，isnobetter-endowed，despitehisqualityasacandidateforhumanity。Inourexcursionsthroughthewoods，hehappenstogetcaughtbythepawinawiresnaresetforrabbits。LiketheTachytes，hetugsatitobstinatelyandonlypullsthenoosetighter。Ihavetoreleasehimwhenhedoesnothimselfsucceedinsnappingthewirebyhishardpulling。Whenhetriestoleavetheroom，ifthetwoleavesofthedoorarejustajar，hecontentshimselfwithpushinghismuzzle，likeawedge，intothetoonarrowaperture。Hemovesforward，pushinginthedirectionwhichhewishestotake。Hissimple，dog-likemethodhasoneunfailingresult:thetwoleavesofthedoor，whenpushed，merelyshutstillcloser。Itwouldbeeasyforhimtopulloneofthemtowardshimwithhispaw，whichwouldmakethepassagewider；butthiswouldbeamovementbackward，contrarytohisnaturalimpulse；andsohedoesnotthinkofit。
Yetanothercreaturethatdoesnotreason。
TheTachytes，whostubbornlypersistsintuggingatherlimedMantisandrefusestoacknowledgeanyothermethodofwrestingherfromtheSilene\'ssnare，showsustheWaspinanunflatteringlight。Whataverypoorintellect！Theinsectbecomesonlythemorewonderful，therefore，whenweconsideritssupremetalentasananatomist。ManyatimeIhaveinsistedupontheincomprehensiblewisdomofinstinct；Idosoagainattheriskofrepeatingmyself。Anideaislikeanail:itisnottobedriveninsavebyrepeatedblows。Byhittingitagainandagain，Ihopetomakeitenterthemostrebelliousbrains。ThistimeIshallattacktheproblemfromtheotherend，thatis，Ishallfirstallowhumanknowledgetohaveitssayandshalltheninterrogatetheinsect\'sknowledge。
TheoutwardstructureofthePrayingMantiswouldofitselfbeenoughtoteachusthearrangementofthenerve-centreswhichtheTachyteshastoinjureinordertoparalyseitsvictim，whichisdestinedtobedevouredalivebutharmless。Anarrowandverylongprothoraxdividesthefrontpairoflegsfromthetwohinderpairs。Theremustthereforebeanisolatedganglioninfrontandtwoganglia，closetoeachother，abouttwo-fifthsofaninchback。Dissectionconfirmsthisforecastcompletely。Itshowsusthreefairlybulkythoracicganglia，arrangedinthesamemannerasthelegs。Thefirstwhichactuatesthefore-legs，isplacedoppositetheirroots。Itisthelargestofthethree。Itisalsothemostimportant，foritpresidesovertheinsect\'sweapons，overthetwopowerfularms，toothedlikesawsandendinginharpoons。Theothertwo，dividedfromthefirstbythewholelengthoftheprothorax，eachfacetheoriginofthecorrespondinglegs；consequentlytheyareveryneareachother。Beyondthemaretheabdominalganglia，whichIpassoverinsilence，astheoperatinginsectdoesnothavetotroubleaboutthem。Themovementsofthebellyaremerepulsationsandareinnowaydangerous。
Nowletusdoalittlereasoningonbehalfofournon-reasoninginsect。Thesacrificerisweak；thevictimiscomparativelypowerful。Threestrokesofthelancetmustabolishalloffensivemovement。Wherewillthefirststrokebedelivered？Infrontisarealengineofwarfare，apairofpowerfulshearswithtoothedjaws。Letthefore-armcloseupontheupperarm；andtheimprudentinsect，crushedbetweenthetwosaw-blades，willbetorntopieces；woundedbytheterminalhook，itwillbeeviscerated。Thisferociousmechanismisthegreatdanger；itisthisthatmustbemasteredattheoutset，attheriskoflife；therestislessurgent。Thefirstblowofthestylet，cautiouslydirected，isthereforeaimedatthelethalfore-
legs，whichimperilthevivisector\'sownexistence。Aboveall，theremustbenohesitation。Theblowmustbeaccuratethenandthere，orthesacrificerwillbecaughtintheviceandperish。Thetwootherpairsoflegspresentnodangertotheoperator，whomightneglectthemifshehadonlyherownsecuritytothinkof；butthesurgeonisoperatingwithaviewtotheegg，whichdemandscompleteimmobilityintheprovisions。Theircentresofinnervationwillthereforebestabbedaswell，withtheleisurewhichtheMantis，nowputoutofaction，permits。Theselegs，aswellastheirnervouscentres，aresituatedveryfarbehindthefirstpointattacked。Thereisalongneutralinterval，thatoftheprothorax，intowhichitisquiteuselesstodrivethesting。Thisintervalhastobecrossed；byabackwardmovementconformingwiththesecretsofthevictim\'sinternalanatomy，thesecondganglionmustbereachedandthenitsneighbour，thethird。Inshort，thesurgicaloperationmaybeformulatedthus:afirststabofthelancetinfront；aconsiderablemovementtotherear，measuringabouttwo-fifthsofaninch；lastly，twolancet-thrustsattwopointsveryclosetogether。Thusspeaksthescienceofman；thuscounselsreason，guidedbyanatomicalstructure。Havingsaidthismuchletusobservetheinsect\'spractice。
ThereisnodifficultyaboutseeingtheTachytesoperateinourpresence；
wehaveonlytoresorttothemethodofsubstitution，whichhasalreadydonemesomuchservice，thatis，todeprivethehuntressofherpreyandatoncetogiveher，inexchange，alivingMantisofaboutthesamesize。
ThissubstitutionisimpracticablewiththemajorityoftheTachytes，whoreachthethresholdoftheirdwellinginasingleflightandatoncevanishundergroundwiththeirgame。Afewofthem，fromtimetotime，harassedperhapsbytheirburden，chancetoalightatashortdistancefromtheirburrow，orevendroptheirprey。Iprofitbytheserareoccasionstowitnessthetragedy。
ThedispossessedWasprecognizesinstantly，fromtheproudbearingofthesubstitutedMantis，thatsheisnolongerembracingandcarryingoffaninoffensivecarcase。Herhovering，hithertosilent，developsabuzz，perhapstooverawethevictim；herflightbecomesanextremelyrapidoscillation，alwaysbehindthequarry。Itisaswhoshouldsaythequickmovementofapendulumswingingwithoutawiretohangfrom。TheMantis，however，liftsherselfboldlyuponherfourhind-legs；sheraisesthefore-
partofherbody，opens，closesandagainopenshershearsandpresentsthemthreateninglyattheenemy；usingaprivilegewhichnootherinsectshares，sheturnsherheadthiswayandthat，aswedowhenwelookoverourshoulders；shefacesherassailant，readytostrikeareturnblowwheresoevertheattackmaycome。ItisthefirsttimethatIhavewitnessedsuchdefensivedaring。Whatwillbetheoutcomeofitall？
TheWaspcontinuestooscillatebehindtheMantis，inordertoavoidtheformidablegrappling-engine；then，suddenly，whenshejudgesthattheotherisbaffledbytherapidityofhermanoeuvres，shehurlsherselfupontheinsect\'sback，seizesitsneckwithhermandibles，windsherlegsrounditsthoraxandhastilydeliversafirstthrustofthesting，tothefront，attherootofthelethallegs。Completesuccess！Thedeadlyshearsfallpowerless。Theoperatorthenletsherselfslipasshemightslidedownapole，retreatsalongtheMantis\'backand，goingatriflelower，lessthanafinger\'sbreadth，shestopsandparalyses，thistimewithouthurryingherself，thetwopairsofhind-legs。Itisdone:thepatientliesmotionless；onlythetarsiquiver，twitchingintheirlastconvulsions。Thesacrificerbrushesherwingsforamomentandpolishesherantennaebypassingthemthroughhermouth，anhabitualsignoftranquillityreturningaftertheemotionsoftheconflict；sheseizesthegamebytheneck，takesitinherlegsandfliesawaywithit。
Whatdoyousaytoitall？Donotthescientist\'stheoryandtheinsect\'spracticeagreemostadmirably？Hasnottheanimalaccomplishedtoperfectionwhatanatomyandphysiologyenabledustoforetell？Instinct，agratuitousattribute，anunconsciousinspiration，rivalsknowledge，thatmostcostlyacquisition。Whatstrikesmemostisthesuddenrecoilafterthefirstthrustofthesting。TheHairyAmmophila，operatingonhercaterpillar，likewiserecoils，butprogressively，fromonesegmenttothenext。Herdeliberatesurgerymightreceiveaquasi-explanationifweascribeittoacertainuniformity。WiththeTachytesandtheMantisthispaltryargumentescapesus。Herearenolancet-pricksregularlydistributed；onthecontrary，theoperating-methodbetraysalackofsymmetrywhichwouldbeinconceivable，iftheorganizationofthepatientdidnotserveasaguide。TheTachytesthereforeknowswhereherprey\'snerve-centreslie；or，tospeakmorecorrectly，shebehavesasthoughsheknew。
Thissciencewhichisunconsciousofitselfhasnotbeenacquired，byherandbyherrace，throughexperimentsperfectedfromagetoageandhabitstransmittedfromonegenerationtothenext。Itisimpossible，Iampreparedtodeclareahundredtimes，athousandtimesover，itisabsolutelyimpossibletoexperimentandtolearnanartwhenyouarelostifyoudonotsucceedatthefirstattempt。Don\'ttalktomeofatavism，ofsmallsuccessesincreasingbyinheritance，whenthenovice，ifhemisdirectedhisweapon，wouldbecrushedinthetrapofthetwosawsandfallapreytothesavageMantis！ThepeaceableLocust，ifmissed，protestsagainsttheattackwithafewkicks；thecarnivorousMantis，whoisinthehabitoffeastingonWaspsfarmorepowerfulthantheTachytes，wouldprotestbyeatingthebungler；thegamewoulddevourthehunter，anexcellentcatch。Mantis-paralysingisamostperiloustradeandadmitsofnohalf-successes；youhavetoexcelinitfromthefirst，underpainofdeath。No，thesurgicalartoftheTachytesisnotanacquiredart。Whencethendoesitcome，ifnotfromtheuniversalknowledgeinwhichallthingsmoveandhavetheirbeing！
Whatwouldhappenif，inexchangeforherPrayingMantis，IweretogivetheTachytesayoungGrasshopper？Inrearinginsectsathome，Ihavealreadynotedthatthelarvaeputupverywellwiththisdiet；andIamsurprisedthatthemotherdoesnotfollowtheexampleoftheTarsalTachytesandprovideherfamilywithaskewerfulofLocustsinsteadoftheriskypreywhichsheselects。Thedietwouldbepracticallythesame；andtheterribleshearswouldnolongerbeadanger。Withsuchapatientwouldheroperating-methodremainthesame；shouldweagainseeasuddenrecoilafterthefirststabundertheneck；orwouldthevivisectormodifyherartinconformitywiththeunfamiliarnervousorganization？
Thissecondalternativeishighlyimprobable。Itwouldbenonsensetoexpecttoseetheparalyservarythenumberandthedistributionofthewoundsaccordingtothegenusofthevictim。Supremelyskilledinthetaskthathasfallentoitslot，theinsectknowsnothingfurther。
Thefirstalternativeseemstoofferacertainchanceanddeservesatest。
IoffertheTachytes，deprivedofherMantis，asmallGrasshopper，whosehind-legsIamputatetopreventhisleaping。ThedisabledAcridianjogsalongthesand。TheWaspfliesroundhimforamoment，castsacontemptuousglanceuponthecrippleandwithdrawswithoutattemptingaction。Letthepreyofferedbelargeorsmall，greenorgrey，shortorlong，ratherliketheMantisorquitedifferent，allmyeffortsmiscarry。TheTachytesrecognizesinaninstantthatthisisnobusinessofhers；thisisnotherfamilygame；shegoesoffwithoutevenhonouringmyGrasshopperswithapeckofhermandibles。
Thisstubbornrefusalisnotduetogastronomicalcauses。IhavestatedthatthelarvaerearedbymyownhandsfeedonyoungGrasshoppersasreadilyasonyoungMantes；theydonotseemtoperceiveanydifferencebetweenthetwodishes；theythriveequallyonthegamechosenbymeandthatselectedbythemother。IfthemothersetsnovalueontheGrasshopper，whatthencanbethereasonofherrefusal？Icanseeonlyone:thisquarry，whichisnothers，perhapsinspiresherwithfear，asanyunknownthingmightdo；theferociousMantisdoesnotalarmher，butthepeaceableGrasshopperterrifiesher。Andthen，ifsheweretoovercomeherapprehensions，shedoesnotknowhowtomastertheAcridianand，aboveall，howtooperateuponhim。Toeverymanhistrade，toeveryWaspherownwayofwieldinghersting。Modifytheconditionseversoslightly；andtheseskilfulparalysersareatanutterloss。
Toeveryinsectalsoitsownartoffashioningthecocoon，anartwhichvariesgreatly，anartinwhichthelarvadisplaysalltheresourcesofitsinstincts。TheTachytes，theBembeces，theStizi，thePalariandotherburrowersbuildcompositecocoons，hardasfruit-stones，formedofanencrustationofsandinanetworkofsilk。WearealreadyacquaintedwiththeworkoftheBembex。Iwillrecallthefactthattheirlarvafirstweavesaconical，horizontalbagofpurewhitesilk，withwidemeshes，heldinplacebyinterlacedthreadswhichfixittothewallsofthecell。I
havecomparedthisbag，becauseofitsshape，withafishtrap。Withoutleavingthishammock，stretchingitsneckthroughtheorifice，theworkergathersfromwithoutalittleheapofsand，whichitstoresinsideitsworkshop。Then，selectingthegrainsonebyone，itencruststhemallarounditselfinthefabricofthebagandcementsthemwiththefluidfromitsspinnerets，whichhardensatonce。Whenthistaskisfinished，thehousehasstilltobeclosed，forithasbeenwideopenallthistimetopermitoftherenewalofthestoreofsandastheheapinsidebecomesexhausted。Forthispurposeacapofsilkiswovenacrosstheopeningandfinallyencrustedwiththematerialswhichthelarvahasretainedatitsdisposal。
TheTachytesbuildsinquiteanotherfashion，althoughitswork，oncefinished，doesnotdifferfromthatoftheBembex。Thelarvasurroundsitself，tobeginwith，aboutthemiddleofitsbodywithasilkengirdlewhichanumberofthreads，veryirregularlydistributed，holdinplaceandconnectwiththewallsofthecell。Sandiscollected，withinreachoftheworker，onthisgeneralscaffolding。Thenbeginstheworkofminormasonry，withgrainsofsandforrubbleandthesecretionofthespinneretsforcement。Thefirstcourseislaiduponthefore-edgeofthesuspensoryring。
Whenthecircleiscompleted，asecondcourseofgrainsofsand，stucktogetherbythefluidsilk，israiseduponthehardenededgeofwhathasjustbeendone。Thustheworkproceeds，byring-shapedcourses，laidedgetoedge，untilthecocoon，havingacquiredhalfofitsproperlength，isroundedintoacapandfinallyisclosed。Thebuilding-methodsoftheTachytes-larvaremindmeofamasonconstructingaroundchimney，anarrowtowerofwhichheoccupiesthecentre。Turningonhisownaxisandusingthematerialsplacedtohishand，heencloseshimselflittlebylittleinhissheathofmasonry。Inthesamewaytheworkerenclosesitselfinitsmosaic。Tobuildthesecondhalfofthecocoon，thelarvaturnsroundandbuildsinthesamewayontheotheredgeoftheoriginalring。Inaboutthirty-sixhoursthesolidshelliscompleted。
IamratherinterestedtoseetheBembexandtheTachytes，twoworkersinthesameguild，employsuchdifferentmethodstoachievethesameresult。
Thefirstbeginsbyweavinganeel-trapofpuresilkandnextencruststhegrainsofsandinside；thesecond，abolderarchitect，iseconomicalofthesilkenvelope，confinesitselftoahanginggirdleandbuildscoursebycourse。Thebuilding-materialsarethesame:sandandsilk；thesurroundingsamidwhichthetwoartisansworkarethesame:acellinasoilofsandygravel；yeteachofthebuilderspossessesitsindividualart，itsownplan，itsonemethod。
Thenatureofthefoodhasnomoreeffectuponthelarva\'stalentsthantheenvironmentinwhichitlivesorthematerialsemployed。TheproofofthisisfurnishedbyStizaruficornis，anotherbuilderofcocoonsingrainsofsandcementedwithsilk。ThissturdyWaspdigsherburrowsinsoftsandstone。LiketheMantis-killingTachytes，shehuntsthevariousMantidesofthecountryside，consistingmainlyofthePrayingMantis；onlyherlargesizerequiresthemtobemorefullydeveloped，withouthoweverhavingattainedtheformandthedimensionsoftheadult。Sheplacesthreetofiveofthemineachcell。
InsolidityandvolumehercocoonrivalsthatofthelargestBembex；butitdiffersfromit，atfirstsight，byasingularfeatureofwhichIknownootherexample。Fromthesideoftheshell，whichisuniformlysmoothedoneveryside，aroughknobprotrudes，alittleclodofsandstuckontotherest。TheworkofStizusruficorniscanatonceberecognized，amongalltheothercocoonsofasimilarnature，bythisprotuberance。
Itsoriginwillbeexplainedbythemethodwhichthelarvafollowsinconstructingitsstrong-box。Atthebeginning，aconicalbagiswovenofpurewhitesilk；youmighttakeitfortheinitialeel-trapoftheBembeces，onlythisbaghastwoopenings，averywideoneinfrontandanother，verynarrowoneattheside。ThroughthefrontopeningtheStizusprovidesitselfwithsandasandwhenitspendsthismaterialonencrustingtheinterior。Thisstrengthensthecocoon；andthecapwhichclosesitismadenext。SofaritisexactlyliketheworkoftheBembex。Wenowhavetheworkerenclosed，engagedinperfectingtheinnerwall。Forthesefinaltouchesalittlemoresandisneeded。Itobtainsitfromoutsidebymeansoftheaperturewhichithastakentheprecautionofcontrivinginthesideofitsbuilding，anarrowdormer-windowjustlargeenoughtoallowitsslendernecktopass。Whenthestorehasbeentakenin，thisaccessoryorifice，whichisusedonlyduringthelastfewmoments，isclosedwithamouthfulofmortar，thrustoutwardfromwithin。Thisformstheirregularnipplewhichprojectsfromthesideoftheshell。
ForthepresentIshallnotexpatiatefurtheruponStizusruficornis，whosecompletebiographywouldbeoutofplaceinthischapter。Iwilllimitmyselftomentioningitsmethodofconstructingstrong-boxesinordertocompareitwiththatoftheBembexandaboveallwiththatoftheTachytes，aconsumer，likeitself，ofPrayingMantes。Fromthisparallelitseemstometofollowthattheconditionsoflifeinwhichmenseeto-daytheoriginofinstincts——thetypeoffood，thesurroundingsamidwhichthelarvallifeispassed，thematerialsavailableforadefensivewrapperandotherfactorswhichtheevolutionistsareaccustomedtoinvoke——havenoactualinfluenceuponthelarva\'sindustry。Mythreearchitectsingluedsand，evenwhenalltheconditions，downtothenatureoftheprovisions，arethesame，adoptdifferentmeanstoexecuteanidenticaltask。Theyareengineerswhohavenotgraduatedfromthesameschool，whohavenotbeeneducatedonthesameprinciples，thoughthelessonofthingsisalmostthesameforallofthem。Theworkshop，thework，theprovisionshavenotdeterminedtheinstinct。Theinstinctcomesfirst；itlaysdownlawsinsteadofbeingsubjecttothem。
CHAPTER7。CHANGEOFDIET。
Brillat-Savarin，whenpronouncinghisfamousmaxim，“TellmewhatyoueatandIwilltellyouwhatyouare，“certainlyneversuspectedthesignalconfirmationwhichtheentomologicalworldwouldbestowuponhissaying。
Ourgastrosopherwasspeakingonlyoftheculinarycapricesofmanrenderedfastidiousbythesweetsoflife；buthemight，inamoreseriousdepartmentofthought，havegivenhisformulaawiderandmoregeneralbearingandappliedittothedisheswhichvarysogreatlyaccordingtolatitude，climateandcustoms；hemightaboveallhavetakenintohisreckoningtheharshrealitiessufferedbythecommonpeople，whenperhapshisidealofmoralworthwouldhavebeenfoundinaplatterofchick-peasoftenerthaninapotofpatedefoiegras。Nomatter:hisaphorism，themerewhimsicalsallyofanepicure，becomesanimperioustruthifweforgettheluxuryofthetableandlookintowhatiseatenbythelittleworldwhichswarmsaroundus。
Toeachitsmess。ThecabbagePierisconsumesthepungentleavesoftheCruciferaeasthefoodofherinfancy；theSilkwormdisdainsanyfoliageotherthanthatofthemulberry-tree。TheSpurgeHawk-mothrequiresthecausticmilk-sapofthetithymals:theCorn-weevilthegrainofwheat；thePea-weevil，theseedsoftheLeguminosae；theBalaninus(AgenusofBeetlesincludingtheAcorn-weevil，theNut-weevilandothers——Translator\'sNote。)
thehazel-nut，thechestnut，theacorn；theBrachycera(AdivisionofFliesincludingtheGad-fliesandRobber-flies——Translator\'sNote。)thecloveofgarlic。Eachhasitsdiet，eachitsplant；andeachplanthasitscustomaryguests。Theirrelationsaresoprecisethatinmanycasesonemightdeterminetheinsectbythevegetablewhichsupportsit，orthevegetablebytheinsect。
Ifyouknowthelily，youmaynameasaCrioceristhetinyscarletScarabaeidthatinhabitsitandpeoplesitsleaveswithlarvaewhichkeepthemselvescoolbeneathanovercoatofordure。(FortheLily-beetle，orCriocerismerdigera，cf。“TheGlow-wormandOtherBeetles，“byJ。HenriFabre，translatedbyAlexanderTeixeiradeMattos:chapters16and17——
Translator\'sNote。)IfyouknowtheCrioceris，youmaynameasalilytheplantwhichshedevastates。Itwillnotperhapsbethecommonorwhitelily，butsomeotherrepresentativeofthesamefamily——Turk\'scaplily，orangelily，scarletMartagon，lancifoliatelily，tiger-spottedlily，goldenlily——hailingfromtheAlpsorthePyrenees，orbroughtfromChinaorJapan。RelyingontheCrioceris，whoisanexpertjudgeofexoticaswellasofnativeLiliaceae，youmaynameasalilytheplantwithwhichyouareunacquaintedandtrustthewordofthissingularbotanicalmaster。
Whethertheflowerbered，yellow，ruddy-brownorsownwithcrimsonspots，characteristicssounliketheimmaculatewhitenessofthefamiliarflower，donothesitate，adoptthenamedictatedbytheBeetle。Wheremanisliabletomistaketheinsectisnevermistaken。
Thisinsectbotany，acauseofsuchgrievoustribulations，hasalwaysimpressedtheworkerinthefields，whoforallthat，isaveryindifferentobserver。Themanwhowasthefirsttoseehiscabbage-plotdevastatedbycaterpillarsmadetheacquaintanceofthePieris。Sciencecompletedtheprocess，initsdesiretoserveausefulpurposeormerelytoseektruthfortruth\'ssake；andto-daytherelationsbetweentheinsectandtheplantformacollectionofrecordsasimportantfromthephilosophicalasfromthepractical，agriculturalpointofview。Whatismuchlessfamiliartous，becauseittouchesuslessnearly，isthezoologyoftheinsect，thatistosay，theselectionwhichitmakes，tofeeditslarva，ofthisorthatanimalspecies，totheexclusionofothers。Thesubjectissovastthatavolumewerenotsufficienttoexhaustit；besides，dataarelackinginthevastmajorityofcases。Itisreservedforastillverydistantfuturetoraisethispointofbiologytothelevelalreadyreachedbythequestionofvegetablediet。ItwillbeenoughifIcontributeafewobservationsscatteredthroughmywritingsormynotes。
WhatdoestheWaspaddictedtoapredatorylifeeat，ofcourseinthelarvalstate？Now，tobeginwith，weseenaturalsectionswhichadoptastheirpreydifferentspeciesofoneandthesameorder，inoneandthesamegroup。ThustheAmmophilaehuntexclusivelythelarvaeofthenight-flyingMoths。ThistasteissharedbytheEumenes，averydifferentgenus。(Cf。
“TheMason-wasps“byJ。HenriFabre，translatedbyAlexanderTeixeiradeMattos:chapter1——Translator\'sNote。)TheSphegesandTachytesareaddictedtoOrthoptera；theCerceres，apartfromafewexceptions，arefaithfultotheWeevil；boththePhilanthiandthePalaricaptureonlyHymenoptera；thePompilispecializeinhuntingtheSpider；theAstatarevelsintheflavourofBugs；theBembeceswantFliesandnothingelse；
theScoliaeenjoythemonopolyoftheLamellicorn-grubs；thePelopaeifavourtheyoungEpeirae(OrGardenSpiders。Cf。“TheLifeoftheSpider“:
chapters9to14andappendix——Translator\'sNote。)，theStizivaryinopinion:ofthetwoinmyneighbourhood，one，S。ruficornis，fillsherlarderwithMantesandtheother，S。tridentatus，fillsitwithCicadellae(Cf。“TheLifeoftheGrasshopper“:chapter20——Translator\'sNote。)；
lastly，theCrabronidae(AnyFliesakintotheHouse-fly——Translator\'sNote。)。levytributeupontherabbleoftheMuscidae。(Hornets——
Translator\'sNote。)
Alreadyyouseewhatamagnificentclassificationofthesegame-huntersmightbemadewithafaithfullylistedbilloffare。Naturalgroupsstandout，characterizedmerelybytheidentityoftheirvictuals。Itrustthatthemethodicalscienceofthefuturewilltakeaccountofthesegastronomiclaws，tothegreatreliefoftheentomologicalnovice，whoistoooftenhamperedbythesnaresofthemouth-parts，theantennaeandthenervuresofthewings。Icallforaclassificationinwhichtheinsect\'saptitudes，itsdiet，itsindustryanditshabitsshalltakeprecedenceoftheshapeofajointinitsantennae。Itwillcome；butwhen？
Iffromgeneralitieswedescendtodetails，weshallseethattheveryspeciesmay，inmanyinstances，bedeterminedfromthenatureofitsvictuals。ThenumberofburrowsofPhilanthusapivoruswhichIhaveinspectedsinceIhavebeenrummagingthehotroadsideembankments，toenquireintotheirpopulation，wouldseemhyperbolicalwereIabletostatethefigures。(FortheBee-eatingPhilanthuscf。Chapter10ofthepresentvolume——Translator\'sNote。)Theymustamount，itseemstome，tothousands。Well，inthismultitudeoffood-stores，whetherrecentorancient，uncoveredforapurposeorencounteredbychance，Ihavenotonce，notasoftenasonce，discoveredotherremainsthanthoseoftheHive-bee:
theimperishablewings，stillconnectedinpairs，thecraniumandthoraxenvelopedinavioletshroud，thewinding-sheetwhichtimethrowsovertheserelics。To-dayaswhenIwasabeginner，eversolongago；inthenorthasinthesouthofthecountrywhichIexplored；inmountainousregionsasontheplains，thePhilanthusfollowsanunvaryingdiet:shemusthavetheHive-bee，alwaystheBeeandneveranyother，howevercloselyvariousotherkindsofgameresembletheBeeinquality。If，therefore，whenexploringsunnybanks，youfindbeneaththesoilasmallparcelofmutilatedBees，thatwillbeenoughtopointtotheexistenceofalocalcolonyofPhilanthusapivorus。ShealoneknowstherecipeformakingpottedBee-meat。TheCrioceriswasbutnowteachingusallaboutthelilyfamily；
andherethemildewedbodyoftheBeetellsusofthePhilanthusandherlair。
SimilarlythefemaleEphippigerhelpsustoidentifytheLanguedocianSphex:herrelics，thecymbalsandthelongsabre，aretheunmistakablesignofthecocoontowhichtheyadhere。TheblackCricket，withhisred-
braidedthighs，istheinfalliblelabeloftheYellow-wingedSphex；thelarvaofOryctesnasicornistellsusoftheGardenScoliaascertainlyasthebestdescription；theCetonia-grubproclaimstheTwo-bandedScoliaandthelarvaoftheAnoxiaannouncestheInterruptedScolia。
Aftertheseexclusiveones，whodisdaintovarytheirmeals，letusmentiontheeclectics，who，inagroupwhichisgenerallywell-defined，areabletoselectamongdifferentkindsofgameappropriatetotheirbulk。TheGreatCerceris(Cerceristuberculata。Cf。“TheHuntingWasps“:chapters2and3——
Translator\'sNote。)favoursaboveallCleonusophthalmicus，oneofthelargestofourWeevils；butatneedsheacceptstheotherCleoni，aswellasthekindredgenera，providedthatthecapturebeofanimposingsize。
Cercerisarenaria(Cf。idem:chapter1——Translator\'sNote。)extendsherhunting-groundsfartherafield:anyWeevilofaveragedimensionsistoherawelcomecapture。TheBuprestis-huntingCercerisadoptsalltheBuprestesindiscriminately，solongastheyarenotbeyondherstrength。TheCrownedPhilanthus(P。coronatus，FAB。)fillsherundergroundwarehouseswithHalictichosenamongthebiggest。(Cf。“Bramble-beesandOthers“byJ。
HenriFabre，translatedbyAlexanderTeixeiradeMattos:chapters12to14——Translator\'sNote。)Muchsmallerthanherkinswoman，Philanthusraptor，LEP。，storesawayHalictichosenamongthelesslargespecies。AnyadultAcridianapproachinganinchinlengthsuitstheWhite-bandedSphex。
ThevarioustidaeoftheneighbourhoodareadmittedtothelarderofStizusruficornisandoftheMantis-huntingTachytesonthesoleconditionofbeingyoungandtender。ThelargestofourBembeces(B。rostrata，FAB。，andB。bidentata，VANDERLIND(FortheRostrateBembexandtheTwo-prongedBembex，cf。“TheHuntingWasps“:chapter14——Translator\'sNote。))areeagerconsumersofGad-flies。WiththesechiefdishestheyassociaterelishesleviedindifferentlyfromtherestoftheFlyclan。TheSandyAmmophila(A。sabulosa，VANDERLIND(Cf。idem:chapter13——Translator\'sNote。))andtheHairyAmmophila(A。hirsuta，KIRB。)cramintoeachburrowasinglebutcorpulentcaterpillar，alwaysoftheMothtribeandvaryinggreatlyincoloration，whichdenotesdistinctspecies。TheSilkyAmmophila(A。holosericea，VANDERLIND。(Cf。idem:chapter14——Translator\'sNote。))
hasabetterassorteddiet。Sherequiresforeachbanqueterthreeorfouritems，whichincludetheMeasuring-worms，orLoopers，andthecaterpillarsofordinaryMoths，allofwhichareequallyappreciated。TheBrown-wingedSolenius(S。fascipennis，LEP。)，whoelectstodwellinthesoftdeadwoodofoldwillow-trees，hasamarkedpreferenceforVirgil\'sBee，Eristalistenax(ActuallytheCommonDrone-flyandsomewhatresemblingaBeeinappearance。Cf。“TheHuntingWasps“:chapter14——Translator\'sNote。)，willinglyadding，sometimesasaside-dish，sometimesastheprincipalgame，Helophiluspendulus，whosecostumeisverydifferent。Onthefaithofindistinguishableremains，wemustnodoubtenteranumberofotherFliesinhergame-book。TheGolden-mouthedHornet(Crabrochrysostomus，LEP。)
anotherburrowerinoldwillow-trees，preferstheSyrphi，withoutdistinctionofspecies。(TheSyrphi，liketheEristales，resembleBeesthroughhavingtheabdomentransverselybandedwithyellow——Translator\'sNote。)TheWanderingSolenius(S。vagus，LEP。(ForthisFly-huntinginsectcf。“Bramble-beesandOthers“:chapters1and3——Translator\'sNote。))，aninmateofthedrybramble-stemsandofthedwarf-elder，laysundercontributionforherlarderthegeneraSyritta，Sphaerophoria，Sarcophaga，Syrphus，Melanophora，Paragusandapparentlymanyothers。ThespecieswhichrecursmostfrequentlyinmynotesisSyrittapipiens。
Withoutpursuingthistediouslistanyfarther，weplainlyperceivethegeneralresult。Eachhuntresshashercharacteristictastes，somuchsothat，whenweknowthebilloffare，wecantellthegenusandveryoftenthespeciesoftheguest，thusprovingtheproudtruthofthemaxim，“TellmewhatyoueatandIwilltellyouwhatyouare。“
Therearesomewhichalwaysneedthesameprey。TheoffspringoftheLanguedocianSphexreligiouslyconsumetheEphippiger，thatfamilydishsodeartotheirancestorsandnolessdeartotheirdescendants；noinnovationintheancientusagescantemptthem。Othersarebettersuitedbyvariety，forreasonsconnectedwithflavourorwithfacilityofsupply；
butthentheselectionofthegameiskeptwithinfixedlimits。Anaturalgroup，agenus，afamily，morerarelyalmostawholeorder:thisisthehunting-groundbeyondwhichpoachingisstrictlyforbidden。Thelawisabsolute；andoneandallscrupulouslyrefrainfromtransgressingit。
IntheplaceofthePrayingMantis，offertheMantis-huntingTachytesanequivalentintheshapeofaLocust。Shewillscornthemorsel，thoughitwouldseemtobeofexcellentflavour，seeingthatPanzer\'sTachytesprefersittoanyotherformofgame。OfferherayoungEmpusa，whodifferssowidelyfromtheMantisinshapeandcolour:shewillacceptwithouthesitationandoperatebeforeyoureyes。Despiteitsfantasticappearance，theDevilkinisinstantlyrecognizedbytheTachytesasaMantidandthereforeasgamefallingwithinherscope。
InexchangeforherCleonus，givetotheGreatCercerisaBuprestis，thedelightofoneofhernearkinsfolk。Shewillhavenothingtosaytothesumptuousdish。Acceptthat！She，aWeevil-eater！Neverinthisworld！
PresentherwithaCleonusofadifferentspecies，oranyotherlargeWeevil，ofasortwhichshehasmostprobablyneverseenbefore，sinceitdoesnotfigureontheinventoryoftheprovisionsinherburrows。Thistimethereisnoshowofdisdain:thevictimisseizedandstabbedintheregulationmannerandforthwithstoredaway。
TrytopersuadetheHairyAmmophilathatSpidershaveanuttyflavour，asLalandeasserts；andyouwillseehowcoldlyyourhintsarereceived。
(JosephJeromeLeFrancoisdeLalande(1732-1807)，theastronomer。Evenafterhehadachievedhisreputation，hesoughtmeans，outsidethedomainofscience，tomakehimselftalkedaboutandfoundtheseinthedisplaypartlyofoddtastes，suchasthatforeatingSpidersandcaterpillars，andpartlyofatheisticalopinions——Translator\'sNote。)TrymerelytoconvinceherthatthecaterpillarofaButterflyisasgoodtoeatasthecaterpillarofaMoth。Youwillnotsucceed。But，ifyousubstituteforherundergroundlarva，whichIsupposetobegrey，anotherundergroundlarvastripedwithblack，yellow，rusty-redoranyothertint，thischangeofcolorationwillnotpreventherfromrecognizing，inthesubstituteddish，avictimtoherliking，anequivalentofherGreyWorm。
Sowiththerest，sofarasIhavebeenabletoexperimentwiththem。Eachobstinatelyrefuseswhatisalientoherhunting-preserves，eachacceptswhateverbelongstothem，alwaysprovidedthatthegamesubstitutedismuchthesameinsizeanddevelopmentasthatwhereoftheownerhasbeendeprived。ThustheTarsalTachytes，anappreciativeepicureoftenderflesh，wouldnotconsenttoreplaceherpinchofyoungAcridian-grubswiththeonebigLocustthatformsthefoodofPanzer\'sTachytes；andthelatter，inherturn，wouldneverexchangeheradultAcridianfortheother\'smenuofsmallfry。Thegenusandthespeciesarethesame，buttheagediffers；andthisisenoughtodecidethequestionofacceptanceorrefusal。
Whenitsdepredationscoverasomewhatextensivegroup，howdoestheinsectmanagetorecognizethegenera，thespeciescomposingherallottedportionandtodistinguishthemfromtherestwithanassuredvisionwhichtheinventoryofherburrowsprovesnevertobeatfault？Isitthegeneralappearancethatguidesher？No，forinsomeBembex-burrowsweshallfindSphaerophoriae，thoseslender，thong-likecreatures，andBombylii，lookinglikevelvetpincushions；noagain，forinthepitsoftheSilkyAmmophilaweshallsee，sidebyside，thecaterpillaroftheordinaryshapeandtheMeasuring-worm，alivingpairofcompasseswhichprogressesbyalternatelyopeningoutandclosing；no，oncemore，forinthestoreroomsofStizusruficornisandtheMantis-huntingTachytesweseestackedbesidetheMantistheEmpusa，herunrecognizablecaricature。
Isitthecolouring？Notatall。Thereisnolackofinstances。Whatavarietyofhuesandmetallicreflections，distributedinahostofdifferentfashions，appearintheBuprestesthatarehuntedbytheCerceriscelebratedbyLeonDufour。(JeanMarieLeonDufour(1780-1865)wasanarmysurgeonwhoservedwithdistinctioninseveralcampaignsandsubsequentlypractisedasadoctorintheLandes。Heattainedgreateminenceasanaturalist。Cf。“TheHuntingWasps“:chapter1；also“TheLifeoftheSpider“:chapter1——Translator\'sNote。)Apainter\'spalette，containingcrushedgold，bronze，rubyandamethyst，wouldfinditdifficulttorivalthesesumptuouscolours。NeverthelesstheCercerismakesnomistake:allthisnationofinsects，soindifferentlyattired，representstoher，astotheentomologist，thenationoftheBuprestes。TheinventoryoftheHornet\'slarderwillincludeDipteracladingreyorrussetfrieze；othersaregirdledwithyellow，fleckedwithwhite，adornedwithcrimsonlines；
othersaresteel-blue，ebonyblack，orcopperygreen；andunderneaththisvarietyofdissimilarcostumeswefindtheinvariableFly。
Letustakeaconcreteexample。Ferrero\'sCerceris(C。Ferreri，VANDER
LIND)consumesWeevils。HerburrowsareusuallylinedwithPhynotomiandSitonesbothanindeterminategrey，andOtiorhynchi，blackortan-coloured。
NowIhavesometimeshappenedtounearthfromhercellsacollectionofveritablejewelswhich，thankstotheirbrightmetalliclustre，madeamoststrikingcontrastwiththesombreOtiorhynchus。TheseweretheRhynchites(R。betuleti)，whorollthevine-leavesintocigars。Equallymagnificent，someofthemwereazureblue，otherscoppergilt，forthecigar-rollerhasatwofoldcolouring。HowdidtheCercerismanagetorecognizeinthesejewelstheWeevil，thenearrelativeofthevulgarPhynotomus？Anysuchencountersprobablyfoundherlackinginexpertknowledge；herracecannothavehandeddowntoherotherthanveryindeterminatepropensities，forshedoesnotappeartomakefrequentuseoftheRhynchites，asisprovedbymyinfrequentdiscoveryofthemamidthemassofmynumerousexcavations。Forthefirsttime，perhaps，passingthroughavineyard，shesawtherichBeetlegleamingonaleaf；itwasnotforheradishincurrentconsumption，consecratedbytheancientusagesofthefamily。Itwassomethingnovel，exceptional，extraordinary。Well，thisextraordinarycreatureisrecognizedwithcertaintyasaWeevilandstoredawayassuch。
TheglitteringcuirassoftheRhynchitesgoestotakeitsplacebesidethegreycloakofthePhynotomus。No，itisnotthecolourthatguidesthechoice。
Neitherisittheshape。Cercerisarenariahuntsanymedium-sizedWeevil。I
shouldbeputtingthereader\'spatiencetotoogreatatestifIattemptedtogiveinthisplaceacompleteinventoryofthespecimensidentifiedinherlarder。Iwillmentiononlytwo，whichmylatestsearchesaroundmyvillagehaverevealed。TheWaspgoeshuntingontheholm-oaksoftheneighbouringhillsthePubescentBrachyderes(B。pubescens)andtheAcorn-
weevil(Balaninusglandium)。WhathavethesetwoBeetlesincommonasregardsshape？Imeanbyshapenotthestructuraldetailswhichtheclassifierexaminesthroughhismagnifying-glass，notthedelicatefeatureswhichaLatreillewouldquotewhendrawingupatechnicaldescription，butthegeneralpicture，thegeneraloutlinethatimpressesitselfuponthevisionevenofanuntrainedeyeandmakesthemanwhoknowsnothingofscienceandaboveallthechild，amostperspicaciousobserver，connectcertainanimalstogether。
Inthisrespect，whathavetheBrachyderesandtheBalaninusincommonintheeyesofthetownsman，thepeasant，thechildortheCerceris？
Absolutelynothing。Thefirsthasanalmostcylindricalfigure；thesecond，squat，shortandthickset，isconicalinfrontandelliptical，orrathershapedliketheaceofhearts，behind。Thefirstisblack，strewnwithcloudy，mouse-greyspots；thesecondisyellowochre。Theheadofthefirstendsinasortofsnout；theheadofthesecondtapersintoacurvedbeak，slenderasahorse-hairandaslongastherestofthebody。TheBrachydereshasamassiveproboscis，cutoffshort；theBalaninusseemstobesmokinganinsanelylongcigarette-holder。
Whowouldthinkofconnectingtwocreaturessounlike，ofcallingthembythesamename？Outsidetheprofessionalclassifiers，noonewoulddareto。
TheCerceris，moreperspicacious，knowseachofthemforaWeevil，aquarrywithaconcentratednervoussystem，lendingitselftothesurgicalfeatofhersinglestrokeofthelancet。Afterobtaininganabundantbootyatthecostoftheblunt-mouthedinsect，withwhichshesometimesstuffshercellarstotheexclusionofanyotherfare，accordingtothehazardsofthechase，shenowsuddenlyseesbeforeherthecreaturewiththeextravagantproboscis。Accustomedtothefirst，willshefailtoknowthesecond？Bynomeans:atthefirstglancesherecognizesitasherown；andthecellalreadyfurnishedwithafewBrachyderesreceivesitscomplementofBalanini。Ifthesetwospeciesaretoseek，iftheburrowsarefarfromtheholm-oaks，theCerceriswillattackWeevilsdisplayingthegreatestvarietyofgenus，species，formandcoloration，levyingtributeindifferentlyonSitones，Cneorhini，Geonemi，Otiorhynchi，Strophosomiandmanyothers。
InvaindoIrackmybrainsmerelytoguessatthesignsuponwhichthehuntressreliesasaguide，withoutgoingoutsideoneandthesamegroup，inthemidstofsuchavarietyofgame；aboveallbywhatcharacteristicssherecognizesasaWeevilthestrangeAcornBalaninus，theonlyoneamonghervictimsthatwearsalongpipe-stem。Ileavetoevolutionism，atavismandothertranscendental“isms“thehonourandalsotheriskofexplainingwhatIhumblyrecognizeasbeingtoofarbeyondmygrasp。Becausethesonofthebird-catcherwhoimitatesthecallofhisvictimshasbeenfedonroastRobins，LinnetsandChaffinches，shallwehastilyconcludethatthiseducationthroughthestomachwillenablehimlater，withoutotherinitiationthanthatofthespit，toknowhiswayabouttheornithologicalgroupsandtoavoidconfusingthemwhenhisturncomestosethislimedtwigs？Willthedigestingofaragoutoflittlebirds，howeveroftenrepeatedbyhimorhisascendants，sufficetomakehimafinishedbird-
catcher？TheCercerishaseatenWeevil；herancestorshavealleatenWeevil，religiously。IfyouseeinthisthereasonthatmakestheWaspaWeevil-expertendowedwithaperspicacityunrivalledsavebythatofaprofessionalentomologist，whyshouldyourefusetoadmitthatthesameconsequenceswouldfollowinthebird-catcher\'sfamily？
Ihastentoabandontheseinsolubleproblemsinordertoattackthequestionofprovisionsfromanotherpointofview。EveryHuntingWaspisconfinedtoacertaingenusofgame，whichisusuallystrictlylimited。Shepursuesherappointedquarryandregardsanythingoutsideitwithsuspicionanddistaste。Thetricksoftheexperimenter，whodragsherpreyfromunderherandflingsheranotherinexchange，theemotionsofthepossessordeprivedofherpropertyandimmediatelyrecoveringit，butunderanotherform，arepowerlesstoputheronthewrongscent。Obstinatelysherefuseswhateverisalientoherportion；instantlysheacceptswhateverformspartofit。Whencearisesthisinsuperablerepugnanceforprovisionstowhichthefamilyisunaccustomed？Herewemayappealtoexperiment。Letusdoso:
itsdictumistheonlyonethatcanbetrusted。
Thefirstideathatpresentsitselfandtheonlyone，Ithink，thatcanpresentitselfisthatthelarva，thecarnivorousnurseling，hasitspreferences，orwehadbettersayitsexclusivetastes。Thiskindofgamesuitsit；thatdoesnot；andthemotherprovidesitwithfoodinconformitywithitsappetites，whichareunchangeableineachspecies。HerethefamilydishistheGad-fly；elsewhereitistheWeevil；elsewhereagainitistheCricket，theLocustandthePrayingMantis。Goodinthemselves，inageneralway，theseseveralvictualsmaybenoxioustoaconsumerwhoisnotusedtothem。ThelarvawhichdotesonLocustmayfindcaterpillaradetestablefare；andthatwhichrevelsincaterpillarmayholdLocustinhorror。ItwouldbehardforustodiscoverinwhatmannerCricket-fleshandEphippiger-fleshdifferasjuicy，nourishingfoodstuffs；butitdoesnotfollowthatthetwoSphex-waspsaddictedtothisdiethavenotverydecidedopinionsonthematter，orthateachofthemisnotfilledwiththehighestesteemforitstraditionaldishandaprofounddislikefortheother。Thereisnodiscussingtastes。
Moreover，thequestionofhealthmaywellbeinvolved。ThereisnothingtotellusthattheSpider，thattreatforthePompilus，isnotpoison，oratleastunwholesomefood，totheBembex，theloverofGad-flies；thattheAmmophila\'ssucculentcaterpillarisnotrepugnanttothestomachoftheSphexfeduponthedryAcridian。Themother\'sesteemforonekindofgameandherdistrustofanotherwouldinthatcasebeduetothelikesanddislikesofherlarvae；thevictuallerwouldregulatethebilloffarebythegastronomicdemandsofthevictualled。
Thisexclusivenessofthecarnivorouslarvaseemsallthemoreprobableinasmuchasthelarvarearedonvegetablefoodrefusesinanywaytolenditselftoachangeofdiet。Howeverpressedbyhunger，thecaterpillaroftheSpurgeHawk-moth，whichbrowsesonthetithymals，willallowitselftostarveinfrontofacabbageleafwhichmakesapeerlessmealforthePieris。Itsstomach，burnedbypungentspices，willfindtheCruciferainsipidanduneatable，thoughitspiquancyisenhancedbyessenceofsulphur。ThePieris，onitspart，takesgoodcarenottotouchthetithymals:theywouldendangeritslife。ThecaterpillaroftheDeath\'s-
headHawk-mothrequiresthesolanaceousnarcotics，principallythepotato，andwillhavenothingelse。Allthatisnotseasonedwithsolaninitabhors。Anditisnotonlylarvaewhosefoodisstronglyspicedwithalkaloidsandotherpoisonoussubstancesthatrefuseanyinnovationintheirfood；theothers，eventhosewhosedietisleastjuicy，areinvinciblyuncompromising。Eachhasitsplantoritsgroupofplants，beyondwhichnothingisacceptable。
Irememberalatefrostwhichhadnippedthebudsofthemulberry-treesduringthenight，justwhenthefirstleaveswereout。Nextdaytherewasgreatexcitementamongmyneighbours:theSilk-wormshadhatchedandthefoodhadsuddenlyfailed。Thefarmershadtowaitforthesuntorepairthedisaster；buthowweretheytokeepthefamishingnew-borngrubsaliveforafewdays？Theyknewmeforanexpertinplants；bycollectingthemasI
walkedthroughthefieldsIhadearnedthenameofamedicalherbalist。
Withpoppy-flowersIpreparedanelixirwhichclearedthesight；withborageIobtainedasyrupwhichwasasovranremedyforwhooping-cough；I
distilledcamomile；Iextractedtheessentialoilfromthewintergreen。Inshort，botanyhadwonformethereputationofaquackdoctor。Afterall，thatwassomething。
Thehousewivescameinsearchofmefromeverypointofthecompassandwithtearsintheireyesexplainedthesituation。WhatcouldtheygivetheirSilk-wormswhilewaitingforthemulberrytosproutafresh？Itwasaseriousmatter，wellworthyofcommiseration。Onewascountingonherbatchtobuyalengthofclothforherdaughter，whowasonthepointofgettingmarried；anothertoldmeofherplansforaPigtobefattenedagainstthecomingwinter；alldeploredthehandfulofcrown-pieceswhich，hoardedinthehiding-placeinthecupboard，wouldhaveaffordedhelpindifficulttimes。And，fulloftheirtroubles，theyunfolded，beforemyeyes，ascrapofflannelonwhichtheverminwereswarming:
“Regardas，moussu！Venound\'espeli；etrenperlourdouna！Ah，pecaire！“
“Look，sir！Thefrosthascomeandwe\'venothingtogivethem！Oh，whatamisfortune！“
Poorpeople！Whataharshtradeisyours:respectableaboveallothers，butofallthemostuncertain！Youworkyourselvestodeath；and，whenyouhavealmostreachedyourgoal，afewhoursofacoldnight，whichcomesuponyousuddenly，destroysyourharvest。Tohelptheseafflictedonesseemedtomeaverydifficultthing。Itried，however，takingbotanyasmyguide；itsuggestedtome，assubstitutesforthemulberry，themembersofclosely-
relatedfamilies:theelm，thenettle-tree，thenettle，thepellitory。
Theirnascentleaves，choppedsmall，wereofferedtotheSilk-worms。Otherandfarlesslogicalattemptsweremade，inaccordancewiththeinspirationoftheindividuals。Nothingcameofthem。Tothelastspecimen，thenew-
bornSilk-wormsdiedofhunger。Myrenownasaquackmusthavesufferedsomewhatfromthischeck。Wasitreallymyfault？No，itwasthefaultoftheSilk-worm，whichremainedfaithfultoitsmulberryleaf。
