ting for the blood-sucker, in
order to catch him on the buttocks of the Mules which trot round and
round trampling the corn. This gallant fellow shall have his gros sou
and a slice of bread and jam as well. A second, no less fortunate, has
found a fat Spider, the Epeira, for whom my Pompili are waiting. To the
two sous of this fortunate youth I add a little picture for his missal.
Thus are my purveyors kept going; and, after all, their help would be
very inadequate if I did not take upon myself the main burden of these
wearisome quests.

Once in possession of the requisite prey, I transfer the huntress from
my warehouse, the wire-gauze cage, to a bell-glass varying in capacity
from one to three or four litres (1 3/4 to 5 or 7 pints.--Translator's
Note.), according to the size and habits of the combatants; I place the
victim in the arena; I expose the bell-glass to the direct rays of
the sun, without which condition the executioner as a rule declines to
operate; I arm myself with patience and await events.

We will begin with the Hairy Ammophila, my neighbour. Year after year,
when April comes, I see her in considerable numbers, very busy on the
paths in my enclosure. Until June I see her digging her burrows and
searching for the Grey Worm, to be placed in the meat-cellar. Her
tactics are the most complex that I know and more than any other
deserves to be thoroughly studied. To capture the cunning vivisector, to
release her and catch her again I find an easy matter for the best part
of a month; she works outside my door.

I have still to obtain the Grey Worm. This means a repetition of the
disappointments which I had before, when, to find a caterpillar, I was
obliged to watch the Ammophila while hunting and to be guided by her
hints, as the truffle-hunter is guided by the scent of his Dog. A
patient exploration of the harmas, one tuft of thyme after another, does
not give me a single worm. My rivals in this search are finding their
game at every moment; I cannot find it even once. Yet one more reason
for bowing to the superiority of the insect in the management of her
affairs. My band of schoolboys get to work in the surrounding fields.
Nothing, always nothing! I in my turn explore the outer world; and for
ten days the pursuit of a caterpillar torments me till I lose my power
of sleep. Then, at last, victory! At the foot of a sunny wall, under the
budding rosettes of the panicled centaury, I find a fair supply of the