te astonished to see a nectar-drinker become a blood-drinker. But
our astonishment ceases if we consider things more closely. The double
method of feeding is more apparent than real: the crop which fills
itself with sugary liquid does not gorge itself with game. The Odynerus,
when digging into the body of her prey, does not touch the flesh, a fare
absolutely scorned as contrary to her tastes; she satisfies herself with
lapping up the defensive drop which the grub (The Larva of Chrysomela
populi, the Poplar Leaf-beetle.--Translator's Note.) distils at the
end of its intestine. This fluid no doubt represents to her some
highly-flavoured beverage with which she seasons from time to time
the staple diet fetched from the drinking-bar of the flowers, some
appetizing condiment or perhaps--who knows?--some substitute for honey.
Though the qualities of the delicacy escape me, I at least perceive that
the Odynerus does not covet anything else. Once its jar is emptied,
the larva is flung aside as worthless offal, a certain sign of a
non-carnivorous appetite. Under these conditions, the persecutor of the
Chrysomela ceases to surprise us by indulging in the crying abuse of a
double diet.

We even begin to wonder whether other species may not be inclined to
derive a direct advantage from the hunting imposed upon them for the
maintenance of the family. The Odynerus' method of work, the splitting
open of the anal still-room, is too far removed from the obvious
procedure to have many imitators; it is a secondary detail and
impracticable with a different kind of game. But there is sure to be a
certain variety in the direct means of utilizing the capture. Why, for
instance, when the victim paralysed by the sting contains a delicious
broth in some part of its stomach, should the huntress scruple to
violate her dying prey and force it to disgorge without injuring
the quality of the provisions? There must be those who rob the dead,
attracted not by the flesh but by the exquisite contents of the crop.

In point of fact, there are; and they are even numerous. We may
mention in the first rank the Wasp that hunts Hive-bees, the Bee-eating
Philanthus (P. apivorus, LATR.). I long suspected her of perpetrating
these acts of brigandage on her own behalf, having often surprised her
gluttonously licking the Bee's honey-smeared mouth; I had an inkling
that she did not always hunt solely for the benefit of her larvae. The
suspicion deserved to be confi