these
victims of atrophy, there are females as well as males; and their
smallness by no means cools their amorous ardour. These needy creatures,
I repeat, have a hard life of it. Whence do they come, these diminutive
Beetles, if not from dining-rooms insufficiently supplied for their
needs? Their parasitical habits expose them to harsh vicissitudes. No
matter: in dearth as well as in abundance the two sexes appear and the
specific features remain unchanged.

It is unnecessary to linger longer over this subject. The demonstration
is completed. The parasites tell us that changes in the quantity and
quality of food do not lead to any transformation of species. Fed
upon the larva of the Three-horned Osmia or of the Blue Osmia, Anthrax
sinuata, whether of handsome proportions or a dwarf, is still
Anthrax sinuata; fed upon the allowance of the Anthidium of the empty
Snail-shells, the Anthidium of the brambles, the Megachile or doubtless
many others, the Burnt Zonitis is still the Burnt Zonitis. Yet variation
of diet ought to be a very potential factor in the problem of progress
towards another form. Is not the world of living creatures ruled by the
stomach? And the value of this factor is unity, changing nothing in the
product.

The same parasites tell us--and this is the chief object of my
digression--that excess or deficiency of nutriment does not determine
the sex. So we are once more confronted with the strange proposition,
which is now more positive than ever, that the insect which amasses
provisions in proportion to the needs of the egg about to be laid knows
beforehand what the sex of this egg will be. Perhaps the reality is even
more paradoxical still. I shall return to the subject after discussing
the Osmiae, who are very weighty witnesses in this grave affair. (Cf.
"Bramble-bees and Others": chapters 3 to 5. The student is recommended
to read these three chapters in conjunction with the present chapter,
to which they form a sequel, with that on the Osmiae (chapter 2 of the
above volume) intervening.--Translator's Note.)

CHAPTER 10. THE BEE-EATING PHILANTHUS.

To meet among the Wasps, those eager lovers of flowers, a species that
goes hunting more or less on its own account is certainly a notable
event. That the larder of the grub should be provided with prey is
natural enough; but that the provider, whose diet is honey, should
herself make use of the captives is anything but easy to understand. We
are qui