TranslatedbyAlexanderTeixeiradeMattosFellowoftheZoologicalSocietyofLondonCONTENTS
　　TRANSLATOR’SNOTE
　　Thepresentvolumecontainsalltheessaysonflies，orDiptera，fromtheSouvenirsentomologiques，towhichIhaveadded，inordertomakethedimensionsuniformwiththoseoftheothervolumesoftheseries，thepurelyautobiographicalessayscomprisedintheSouvenirs。Theseessays，thoughtheyhavenobearinguponthelifeofthefly，areamongthemostinterestingthatHenriFabrehaswrittenandwill，Iampersuaded，makeaspecialappealtothereader。ThechapterentitledTheCaddisWormhasbeenincludedasfollowingdirectlyuponThePond。
　　SincepublishingTheLifeoftheSpider，IwasmuchstruckbyapassageinDr。ChalmersMitchell’sstimulatingwork，TheChildhoodofAnimals，inwhichthesecretaryoftheZoologicalSocietyofLondonsays:’Ihaveattemptedtoavoidtheuseoftermsfamiliaronlytostudentsofzoologyandtorefrainfromanatomicaldetail，butatthesametimetorefrainfromtheirritatinghabitassumingthatmyreadershavenoknowledge，nodictionariesandnootherbooks。’
　　IbegantowonderwhetherIhadgonetoofarinsimplifyingtheterminologyoftheFabreessaysandinappendingexplanatoryfootnotestotheinevitablenumberofoutlandishnamesofinsects。
　　ButmydoubtsvanishedwhenIthoughtuponFabre’sownwordsinthefirstchapterofthisbook:’IfIwriteformenoflearning，forphilosophers……Iwriteaboveallthingsfortheyoung。Iwanttomakethemlovethenaturalstorywhichyoumakethemhate;andthatiswhy，whilekeepingstrictlytothedomainoftruth，I
　　avoidyourscientificprose，whichtoooften，alas，seemsborrowedfromsomeIroquoisidiom！’
　　AndIcanbutapologizeifIhavebeentoolavishwithmynotestothischapterinparticular，whichintroducestous，asinasortoflitany，amultitudeoftheinsectsstudiedbytheauthor。Fortherest，IhavecontinuedmysystemofreferencestotheearlierFabrebooks，whethertranslatedbymyselforothers。Ofthefollowingessays，TheHarmashasappeared，underanothertitle，inTheDailyMail;ThePond，IndustrialChemistryandthetwoChaptersonthebluebottleinTheEnglishReview;andTheHarmas，ThePondandIndustrialChemistryintheNewYorkBookman。TheothersarenewtoEnglandandAmerica，unlessanyofthemshouldbeissuedinnewspapersormagazinesbetweenthisdateandthepublicationofthebook。
　　IwishoncemoretothankMissFrancesRodwellforherassistanceinthedetailsofmyworkandintheverificationofthemanyreferences;andmythanksarealsoduetoMr。EdwardCahen，whohasbeengoodenoughtorevisethetwochemistrychaptersforme，andtoMr。W。S。GraffBaker，whohasperformedthesamekindlytasktowardsthetwochaptersentitledMathematicalMemories。
　　——AlexanderTeixeiradeMattos。Chelsea，8July，1913。
　　CHAPTERITHEHARMAS
　　ThisiswhatIwishedfor，hoceratinvotis:abitofland，oh，notsoverylarge，butfencedin，toavoidthedrawbacksofapublicway;anabandoned，barren，sunscorchedbitofland，favoredbythistlesandbywaspsandbees。Here，withoutfearofbeingtroubledbythepassersby，IcouldconsulttheAmmophilaandtheSphex[twodiggerorhuntingwasps]andengageinthatdifficultconversationwhosequestionsandanswershaveexperimentfortheirlanguage;here，withoutdistantexpeditionsthattakeupmytime，withouttiringramblesthatstrainmynerves，Icouldcontrivemyplansofattack，laymyambushesandwatchtheireffectsateveryhouroftheday。Hoceratinvotis。Yes，thiswasmywish，mydream，alwayscherished，alwaysvanishingintothemistsofthefuture。
　　Anditisnoeasymattertoacquirealaboratoryintheopenfields，whenharassedbyaterribleanxietyaboutone’sdailybread。ForfortyyearshaveIfought，withsteadfastcourage，againstthepaltryplaguesoflife;andthelong—wished—forlaboratoryhascomeatlast。WhatithascostmeinperseveranceandrelentlessworkIwillnottrytosay。Ithascome;and，withit——amoreseriouscondition——perhapsalittleleisure。Isayperhaps，formylegisstillhamperedwithafewlinksoftheconvict’schain。
　　Thewishisrealized。Itisalittlelate，Omyprettyinsects！I
　　greatlyfearthatthepeachisofferedtomewhenIambeginningtohavenoteethwherewithtoeatit。Yes，itisalittlelate:
　　thewidehorizonsoftheoutsethaveshrunkintoalowandstiflingcanopy，moreandmorestraiteneddaybyday。Regrettingnothinginthepast，savethosewhomIhavelost;regrettingnothing，notevenmyfirstyouth;hopingnothingeither，Ihavereachedthepointatwhich，wornoutbytheexperienceofthings，weaskourselvesiflifebeworththeliving。
　　Amidtheruinsthatsurroundme，onestripofwallremainsstanding，immovableuponitssolidbase:mypassionforscientifictruth。Isthatenough，Omybusyinsects，toenablemetoaddyetafewseemlypagestoyourhistory？Willmystrengthnotcheatmygoodintentions？Why，indeed，didIforsakeyousolong？Friendshavereproachedmeforit。Ah，tellthem，tellthosefriends，whoareyoursaswellasmine，tellthemthatitwasnotforgetfulnessonmypart，notweariness，norneglect:Ithoughtofyou;IwasconvincedthattheCerceris[adiggerwasp]cavehadmorefairsecretstorevealtous，thatthechaseoftheSphexheldfreshsurprisesinstore。Buttimefailedme;Iwasalone，deserted，strugglingagainstmisfortune。Beforephilosophizing，onehadtolive。Tellthemthat;andtheywillpardonme。
　　Othersagainhavereproachedmewithmystyle，whichhasnotthesolemnity，nay，better，thedrynessoftheschools。Theyfearlestapagethatisreadwithoutfatigueshouldnotalwaysbetheexpressionofthetruth。WereItotaketheirwordforit，weareprofoundonlyonconditionofbeingobscure。Comehere，oneandallofyou——you，thestingbearers，andyou，thewing—casedarmor—
　　clads——takeupmydefenseandbearwitnessinmyfavor。TelloftheintimatetermsonwhichIlivewithyou，ofthepatiencewithwhichIobserveyou，ofthecarewithwhichIrecordyouractions。
　　Yourevidenceisunanimous:yes，mypages，thoughtheybristlenotwithhollowformulasnorlearnedsmatterings，aretheexactnarrativeoffactsobserved，neithermorenorless;andwhoevercarestoquestionyouinhisturnwill，obtainthesamereplies。
　　Andthen，mydearinsects，ifyoucannotconvincethosegoodpeople，becauseyoudonotcarrytheweightoftedium，I，inmyturn，willsaytothem:’YouripuptheanimalandIstudyitalive;youturnitintoanobjectofhorrorandpity，whereasI
　　causeittobeloved;youlaborinatorturechamberanddissectingroom，Imakemyobservationsundertheblueskytothesongofthecicadas，yousubjectcellandprotoplasmtochemicaltests，Istudyinstinctinitsloftiestmanifestations;youpryintodeath，Ipryintolife。AndwhyshouldInotcompletemythought:theboarshavemuddiedtheclearstream;naturalhistory，youth’sgloriousstudy，has，bydintofcellularimprovements，becomeahatefulandrepulsivething。Well，ifIwriteformenoflearning，forphilosophers，who，oneday，willtrytosomeextenttounravelthetoughproblemofinstinct，Iwritealso，Iwriteaboveallthingsfortheyoung。Iwanttomakethemlovethenaturalhistorywhichyoumakethemhate;andthatiswhy，whilekeepingstrictlytothedomainoftruth，Iavoidyourscientificprose，whichtoooften，alasseemsborrowedfromsomeIroquoisidiom。"
　　Butthisisnotmybusinessforthemoment:Iwanttospeakofthebitoflandlongcherishedinmyplanstoformalaboratoryoflivingentomology，thebitoflandwhichIhaveatlastobtainedinthesolitudeofalittlevillage。Itisaharmas，thenamegiven，inthisdistrict[thecountryroundSerignan，inProvence]，toanuntilled，pebblyexpanseabandonedtothevegetationofthethyme。Itistoopoortorepaytheworkoftheplow;butthesheeppassesthereinspring，whenithaschancedtorainandalittlegrassshootsup。
　　Myharmas，however，becauseofitsmodicumofredearthswampedbyahugemassofstones，hasreceivedaroughfirstattemptatcultivation:Iamtoldthatvinesoncegrewhere。And，infact，whenwedigthegroundbeforeplantingafewtrees，weturnup，hereandthere，remainsofthepreciousstock，halfcarbonizedbytime。Thethreeprongedfork，therefore，theonlyimplementofhusbandrythatcanpenetratesuchasoilasthis，hasenteredhere;andIamsorry，fortheprimitivevegetationhasdisappeared。Nomorethyme，nomorelavender，nomoreclumpsofkermesoak，thedwarfoakthatformsforestsacrosswhichwestepbylengtheningourstridealittle。Astheseplants，especiallythefirsttwo，mightbeofusetomebyofferingtheBeesandWaspsaspoiltoforage，Iamcompelledtoreinstatetheminthegroundwhencetheyweredrivenbythefork。
　　Whataboundswithoutmymediationistheinvadersofanysoilthatisfirstdugupandthenleftforalongtimetoitsownresources。Wehave，inthefirstrank，thecouchgrass，thatexecrableweedwhichthreeyearsofstubbornwarfarehavenotsucceededinexterminating。Next，inrespectofnumber，comethecentauries，grimlookingoneandall，bristlingwithpricklesorstarryhalberds。Theyaretheyellow—floweredcentaury，themountaincentaury，thestarthistleandtheroughcentaury:thefirstpredominates。Hereandthere，amidtheirinextricableconfusion，stands，likeachandelierwithspreading，orangeflowersforlights，thefierceSpanishoysterplant，whosespikesarestrongasnails。Aboveit，towerstheIllyriancottonthistle，whosestraightandsolitarystalksoarstoaheightofthreetosixfeetandendsinlargepinktufts。Itsarmorhardlyyieldsbeforethatoftheoysterplant。Normustweforgetthelesserthistletribe，withfirstofall，thepricklyor’cruel’
　　thistle，whichissowellarmedthattheplantcollectorknowsnotwheretograspit;next，thespearthistle，withitsamplefoliage，endingeachofitsveinswithaspearhead;lastly，theblackknapweed，whichgathersitselfintoaspikyknot。Inamongthese，inlonglinesarmedwithhooks，theshootsofthebluedewberrycreepalongtheground。TovisitthepricklythicketwhentheWaspgoesforaging，youmustwearbootsthatcometomid—
　　legorelseresignyourselftoasmartinginthecalves。Aslongasthegroundretainsafewremnantsofthevernalrains，thisrudevegetationdoesnotlackacertaincharm，whenthepyramidsoftheoysterplantandtheslenderbranchesofthecottonthistleriseabovethewidecarpetformedbytheyellow—floweredcentaurysaffronheads;butletthedroughtsofsummercomeandweseebutadesolatewaste，whichtheflameofamatchwouldsetablazefromoneendtotheother。Suchis，orratherwas，whenItookpossessionofit，theEdenofblisswhereImeantolivehenceforthalonewiththeinsect。Fortyyearsofdesperatestrugglehavewonitforme。
　　Eden，Isaid;and，fromthepointofviewthatinterestsme，theexpressionisnotoutofplace。Thiscursedground，whichnoonewouldhavehadatagifttosowwithapinchofturnipseed，isanearthlyparadiseforthebeesandwasps。Itsmightygrowthofthistlesandcentauriesdrawsthemalltomefromeverywherearound。Never，inmyinsecthuntingmemories，haveIseensolargeapopulationatasinglespot;allthetradeshavemadeittheirrallyingpoint。Herecomehuntersofeverykindofgame，buildersinclay，weaversofcottongoods，collectorsofpiecescutfromaleaforthepetalsofaflower，architectsinpasteboard，plasterersmixingmortar，carpentersboringwood，minersdiggingundergroundgalleries，workershandlinggoldbeater’sskinandmanymore。
　　Whoisthisone？AnAnthidium[atailorbee]。Shescrapesthecobwebbystalkoftheyellow—floweredcentauryandgathersaballofwaddingwhichshecarriesoffproudlyinthetipsofhermandibles。Shewillturnit，underground，intocottonfeltsatchelstoholdthestoreofhoneyandtheegg。Andtheseothers，soeagerforplunder？TheyareMegachiles[leaf—cuttingbees]，carryingundertheirbelliestheirblack，whiteorbloodredreapingbrushes。Theywillleavethethistlestovisittheneighboringshrubsandtherecutfromtheleavesovalpieceswhichwillbemadeintoafitreceptacletocontaintheharvest。Andthese，cladinblackvelvet？TheyareChalicodomae[masonbees]，whoworkwithcementandgravel。Wecouldeasilyfindtheirmasonryonthestonesintheharmas。Andthesenoisilybuzzingwithasuddenflight？TheyaretheAnthophorae[wildbees]，wholiveintheoldwallsandthesunnybanksoftheneighborhood。
　　NowcometheOsmiae。Onestackshercellsinthespiralstaircaseofanemptysnailshell;another，attackingthepithofadrybitofbramble，obtainsforhergrubsacylindricallodginganddividesitintofloorsbymeansofpartitionwalls;athirdemploysthenaturalchannelofacutreed;afourthisarent—freetenantofthevacantgalleriesofsomemasonbee。HerearetheMacroceraeandtheEucerae，whosemalesareproudlyhorned;theDasypodae，whocarryanamplebrushofbristlesontheirhindlegsforareapingimplement;theAndrenae，somanifoldinspecies;theslender—belliedHalicti[allwildbees]。Iomitahostofothers。
　　IfItriedtocontinuethisrecordoftheguestsofmythistles，itwouldmusteralmostthewholeofthehoneyyieldingtribe。A
　　learnedentomologistofBordeaux，ProfessorPerez，towhomI
　　submitthenamingofmyprizes，onceaskedmeifIhadanyspecialmeansofhunting，tosendhimsomanyraritiesandevennovelties。
　　Iamnotatallanexperiencedand，stillless，azealoushunter，fortheinsectinterestsmemuchmorewhenengagedinitsworkthanwhenstruckonapininacabinet。Thewholesecretofmyhuntingisreducedtomydensenurseryofthistlesandcentauries。
　　Byamostfortunatechance，withthispopulousfamilyofhoneygathererswasalliedthewholehuntingtribe。Thebuilders’menhaddistributedhereandthereintheharmasgreatmoundsofsandandheapsofstones，withaviewtorunningupsomesurroundingwalls。Theworkdraggedonslowly;andthematerialsfoundoccupantsfromthefirstyear。Themasonbeeshadchosentheintersticesbetweenthestonesasadormitorywheretopassthenight，inserriedgroups。Thepowerfuleyedlizard，who，whenclosepressed，attacksbothmananddog，widemouthed，hadselectedacavewhereintolieinwaitforthepassingscarab[adungbeetlealsoknownasthesacredbeetle];theblack—earedchat，garbedlikeaDominican，white—frockedwithblackwings，satonthetopstone，singinghisshortrusticlay:hisnest，withitsskyblueeggs，mustbesomewhereintheheap。ThelittleDominicandisappearedwiththeloadsofstones。Iregrethim:hewouldhavebeenacharmingneighbor。TheeyedlizardIdonotregretatall。
　　Thesandshelteredadifferentcolony。Here，theBembeces[diggerwasps]weresweepingthethresholdoftheirburrows，flingingacurveofdustbehindthem;theLanguedocianSphexwasdraggingherEphippigera[agreengrasshopper]bytheantennae;aStizus[ahuntingwasp]wasstoringherpreservesofCicadellae[froghoppers]。Tomysorrow，themasonsendedbyevictingthesportingtribe;but，shouldIeverwishtorecallit，Ihavebuttorenewthemoundsofsand:theywillsoonallbethere。
　　Huntersthathavenotdisappeared，theirhomesbeingdifferent，aretheAmmophilae，whomIseefluttering，oneinspring，theothersinautumn，alongthegardenwalksandoverthelawns，insearchofacaterpillar;thePompili[diggerorhuntingwasp]，whotravelalertly，beatingtheirwingsandrummagingineverycornerinquestofaspider。ThelargestofthemwaylaystheNarbonneLycosa[knownalsoastheblack—belliedtarantula]，whoseburrowisnotinfrequentintheharmas。Thisburrowisaverticalwell，withacurboffescuegrassintertwinedwithsilk。YoucanseetheeyesofthemightySpidergleamatthebottomofthedenlikelittlediamonds，anobjectofterrortomost。WhatapreyandwhatdangeroushuntingforthePompilus！Andhere，onahotsummerafternoon，istheAmazonant，wholeavesherbarrackroomsinlongbattalionsandmarchesfarafieldtohuntforslaves。Wewillfollowherinherraidswhenwefindtime。Hereagain，aroundaheapofgrassesturnedtomould，areScoliae[largehuntingwasps]
　　aninchandahalflong，whoflygracefullyanddiveintotheheap，attractedbyarichprey，thegrubsofLamellicorns，OrycotesandCeotoniae[variousbeetles]。
　　Whatsubjectsforstudy！Andtherearemoretocome。Thehousewasasutterlydesertedastheground。Whenmanwasgoneandpeaceassured，theanimalhastilyseizedoneverything。Thewarblertookuphisabodeinthelilacshrubs;thegreenfinchsettledinthethickshelterofthecypresses;thesparrowcartedragsandstrawundereveryslate;theSerinfinch，whosedownynestisnobiggerthanhalfanapricot，cameandchirpedintheplanetreetops;theScopsmadeahabitofutteringhismonotonous，pipingnotehere，ofanevening;thebirdofPallasAthene，theowl，camehurryingalongtohootandhiss。
　　Infrontofthehouseisalargepond，fedbytheaqueductthatsuppliesthevillagepumpswithwater。Here，fromhalfamileandmorearound，comethefrogsandToadsinthelovers’season。Thenatterjack，sometimesaslargeasaplate，withanarrowstripeofyellowdownhisback，makeshisappointmentsheretotakehisbath;whentheeveningtwilightfalls，weseehoppingalongtheedgethemidwifetoad，themale，whocarriesaclusterofeggs，thesizeofpeppercorns，wrappedroundhishindlegs:thegenialpaterfamiliashasbroughthispreciouspacketfromafar，toleaveitinthewaterandafterwardsretireundersomeflatstone，whencehewillemitasoundlikeatinklingbell。Lastly，whennotcroakingamidthefoliage，thetreefrogsindulgeinthemostgracefuldives。Andso，inMay，assoonasitisdark，thepondbecomesadeafeningorchestra:itisimpossibletotalkattable，impossibletosleep。Wehadtoremedythisbymeansperhapsalittletoorigorous。Whatcouldwedo？Hewhotriestosleepandcannotneedsbecomesruthless。
　　Bolderstill，thewasphastakenpossessionofthedwellinghouse。
　　Onmydoorsill，inasoilofrubbish，nestlesthewhite—bandedSphex:whenIgoindoors，Imustbecarefulnottodamageherburrows，nottotreadupontheminerabsorbedinherwork。ItisquiteaquarterofacenturysinceIlastsawthesaucycrickethunter。WhenImadeheracquaintance，Iusedtovisitheratafewmiles’distance:eachtime，itmeantanexpeditionundertheblazingAugustsun。Today，Ifindheratmydoor;weareintimateneighbors。TheembrasureoftheclosedwindowprovidesanapartmentofamildtemperatureforthePelopaeus[amasonwasp]。
　　Theearth—builtnestisfixedagainstthefreestonewall。Toenterherhome，thespiderhuntressusesalittleholeleftopenbyaccidentintheshutters。OnthemoldingsoftheVenetianblinds，afewstraymasonbeesbuildtheirgroupofcells;insidetheoutershutters，leftajar，aEumenes[amasonwasp]constructsherlittleearthendome，surmountedbyashort，bell—mouthedneck。
　　ThecommonwaspandthePolistes[asolitarywasp]aremydinnerguests:theyvisitmytabletoseeifthegrapesservedareasripeastheylook。
　　Here，surely——andthelistisfarfromcomplete——isacompanybothnumerousandselect，whoseconversationwillnotfailtocharmmysolitude，ifIsucceedindrawingitout。Mydearbeastsofformerdays，myoldfriends，andothers，morerecentacquaintances，allarehere，hunting，foraging，buildingincloseproximity。Besides，shouldwewishtovarythesceneofobservation，themountain[Ventoux]isbutafewhundredstepsaway，withitstangleofarbutus，rockrosesandarborescentheather;withitssandyspacesdeartotheBembeces;withitsmarlyslopesexploitedbydifferentwaspsandbees。Andthatiswhy，foreseeingtheseriches，IhaveabandonedthetownforthevillageandcometoSerignantoweedmyturnipsandwatermylettuces。
　　Laboratoriesarebeingfounded，atgreatexpense，onourAtlanticandMediterraneancoasts，wherepeoplecutupsmallseaanimals，ofbutmeagerinteresttous;theyspendafortuneonpowerfulmicroscopes，delicatedissectinginstruments，enginesofcapture，boats，fishingcrews，aquariums，tofindouthowtheyolkofanAnnelid’seggisconstructed，aquestionwhereofIhaveneveryetbeenabletograspthefullimportance;andtheyscornthelittlelandanimal，whichlivesinconstanttouchwithus，whichprovidesuniversalpsychologywithdocumentsofinestimablevalue，whichtoooftenthreatensthepublicwealthbydestroyingourcrops。
　　Whenshallwehaveanentomologicallaboratoryforthestudynotofthedeadinsect，steepedinalcohol，butofthelivinginsect;
　　alaboratoryhavingforitsobjecttheinstinct，thehabits，themannerofliving，thework，thestruggles，thepropagationofthatlittleworld，withwhichagricultureandphilosophyhavemostseriouslytoreckon？
　　ToknowthoroughlythehistoryofthedestroyerofourvinesmightperhapsbemoreimportantthantoknowhowthisorthatnervefiberofaCirriped[seaanimalswithhair—likelegs，includingthebarnaclesandacornshells]ends;toestablishbyexperimentthelineofdemarcationbetweenintellectandinstinct;toprove，bycomparingfactsinthezoologicalprogression，whetherhumanreasonbeanirreduciblefacultyornot:allthisoughtsurelytotakeprecedenceofthenumberofjointsinaCrustacean’santenna。
　　Theseenormousquestionswouldneedanarmyofworkers;andwehavenotone。ThefashionisallfortheMolluskandtheZoophytes[plant—likeseaanimals，includingstarfishes，jellyfishes，seaanemonesandsponges]。Thedepthsoftheseaareexploredwithmanydragnets;thesoilwhichwetreadisconsistentlydisregarded。Whilewaitingforthefashiontochange，Iopenmyharmaslaboratoryoflivingentomology;andthislaboratoryshallnotcosttheratepayersonefarthing。
　　CHAPTERIITHEANTHRAX
　　ImadetheacquaintanceoftheAnthraxin1855atCarpentras，atthetimewhenthelifehistoryoftheoilbeetleswascausingmetosearchthetallslopesbelovedoftheAnthophorabees[masonbees]。Hercuriouspupae，sopowerfullyequippedtoforceanoutletfortheperfectinsectincapableoftheleasteffort，thosepupaearmedwithamultipleplowshareatthefore，atridentattherearandrowsofharpoonsonthebackwherewithtoripopentheOsmiabee’scocoonandbreakthroughthehardcrustofthehillside，betokenedafieldthatwasworthcultivating。ThelittlethatIsaidaboutheratthetimebroughtmeurgententreaties:Iwasaskedforacircumstantialchapteronthestrangefly。Thesternnecessitiesoflifepostponedtoaneverretreatingfuturemybelovedinvestigations，somiserablystifled。
　　Thirtyyearshavepassed;atlast，alittleleisureisathand;
　　andhere，intheharmasofmyvillage，withanardorthathasinnowisegrownold，Ihaveresumedmyplansofyore，stillalivelikethecoalsmolderingundertheashes。TheAnthraxhastoldmehersecrets，whichIinmyturnamgoingtodivulge。WouldthatI
　　couldaddressallthosewhocheeredmeonthispath，includingfirstandforemostthereveredMasteroftheLandes[LeonDufour]。
　　Buttherankshavethinned，manyhavebeenpromotedtoanotherworldandtheirdisciplelaggingbehindthemcanbutrecord，inmemoryofthosewhoarenomore，thestoryoftheinsectcladindeepestmourning。
　　InthecourseofJuly，letusgiveafewsidewardknockstothebracingpebblesanddetachthenestsoftheChalicodomaoftheWalls[amasonbee]fromtheirsupports。Loosenedbytheshock，thedomecomesoffcleanly，allinonepiece。Moreover——andthisisagreatadvantage——thecellscomeintoviewwideopenonthebaseoftheexposednest，foratthispointtheyhavenootherwallthanthesurfaceofthepebble。Inthisway，withoutanyscraping，whichwouldbewearisomeworkfortheoperatoranddangeroustotheinhabitantsofthedome，wehaveallthecellsbeforeoureyes，togetherwiththeircontents，consistingofasilky，amber—yellowcocoon，asdelicateandtranslucentasanonionpeeling。Letussplitthedaintywrapperwiththescissors，chamberbychamber，nestbynest。Iffortunebeatallpropitious，asitalwaysistothepersevering，weshallendbyfindingthatthecocoonsharbortwolarvaetogether，onemoreorlessfadedinappearance，theotherfreshandplump。Weshallalsofindsome，nolessplentiful，inwhichthewitheredlarvaisaccompaniedbyafamilyoflittlegrubswrigglinguneasilyaroundit。
　　Examinationatoncerevealsthetragedythatishappeningunderthecoverofthecocoon。Theflacidandfadedlarvaisthemasonbee’s。Amonthago，inJune，havingfinisheditsmessofhoney，itwoveitssilkensheathforabedchamberwhereintotakethelongsleepwhichisthepreludetothemetamorphosis。Bulgingwithfat，itisarichanddefenselessmorselforwhoeverisabletoreachit。Then，inspiteofapparentlyinsurmountableobstacles，themortarwallandthetentwithoutanopening，theflesh—eatinglarvaeappearedinthesecretretreatandarenowgluttingthemselvesonthesleeper。Threedifferentspeciestakepartinthecarnage，ofteninthesamenest，inadjoiningcells。
　　Thediversityofshapesinformsusofthepresenceofmorethanoneenemy;thefinalstageofthecreatureswilltellusthenamesandqualitiesofthethreeinvaders。
　　Forestallingthesecrets。ofthefutureforthesakeofgreaterclearness，Iwillanticipatetheactualfactsandcomeatoncetotheresultsproduced。Whenitisbyitselfonthebodyofthemasonbee’slarva，themurderousgrubbelongseithertoAnthraxtrifasciata，MEIGEN，ortoLeucospisgigas，FAB。But，ifnumerouslittleworms，oftenascoreandmore，swarmaroundthevictim，thenitisaChalcidid’sfamilywhichwehavebeforeus。Eachoftheseravagersshallhaveitsbiography。LetusbeginwiththeAnthrax。
　　Andfirstthegrub，asitisafterconsumingitsvictim，whenitremainsthesoleoccupantofthemasonbee’scocoon。Itisanakedworm，smooth，leglessandblind，ofacreamydeadwhite，eachsegmentaperfectring，verymuchcurvedwhenatrest，butwiththetendencytobecomealmoststraightwhendisturbed。
　　Throughthediaphanousskin，thelensdistinguishespatchesoffat，whicharethecauseofitscharacteristiccoloring。Whenyounger，asatinygrubafewmillimeterslong，itisstreakedwithtwodifferentkindsofstains，somewhite，opaqueandofacreamytint，otherstranslucentandofthepalestamber。Theformercomefromadiposemassesincourseofformation;thesecondfromthenourishingfluidorfromthebloodwhichlavesthosemasses。
　　Includingthehead，Icountthirteensegments。Inthemiddleofthebodythesesegmentsarewellmarked，beingseparatedbyaslightgroove;butintheforeparttheyaredifficulttocount。
　　Theheadissmallandissoft，liketherestofthebody，withnosignofanymouthpartsevenundertheclosescrutinyofthelens。
　　Itisawhiteglobule，thesizeofatinypin’sheadandcontinuedatthebackbyapadalittlelarger，fromwhichitisseparatedbyascarcelyappreciablecrease。Thewholeisasortofnippleswellingslightlyontheuppersurface;anditsdoublestructureissodifficulttoperceivethatatfirstwetakeitfortheanimal’sheadalone，thoughitincludesboththeheadandtheprothorax，orfirstsegmentofthethorax。
　　Themesothorax，ormiddlesegmentofthethorax，whichistwoorthreetimeslargerindiameter，isflattenedinfrontandseparatedfromthenippleformedbytheprothoraxandtheheadbyadeep，narrow，curvedfissure。Onitsfrontsurfacearetwopaleredstigmata，orrespiratoryorifices，placedprettyclosetogether。Themetathorax，orlastsegmentofthethorax，isalittlelargerstillindiameterandprotrudes。Theseabruptincreasesincircumferenceresultinamarkedhump，slopingsharplytowardsthefront。Thenippleofwhichtheheadformspartissetatthebottomofthishump。
　　Afterthemetathorax，theshapebecomesregularandcylindrical，whiledecreasingslightlyingirthinthelasttwoorthreesegments。Closetothelineofseparationofthelasttworings，Iamabletodistinguish，notwithoutdifficulty，twoverysmallstigmata，justalittledarkerincolor。Theybelongtothelastsegment。Inall，fourrespiratoryorifices，twoinfrontandtwobehind，asistheruleamongFlies。Thelengthofthefullsizedlarvais15to20millimetersanditsbreadth5to6。
　　Remarkableinthefirstplacebytheprotuberanceofitsthoraxandthesmallnessofitshead，thegruboftheAnthraxacquiresexceptionalinterestbyitsmanneroffeeding。Letusbeginbyobservingthat，deprivedofall，eventhemostrudimentarywalkingapparatus，theanimalisabsolutelyincapableofshiftingitsposition。IfIdisturbitsrest，itcurvesandstraightensitselfinturnsbyaseriesofcontractions，ittossesaboutviolentlywhereitlies，butdoesnotmanagetoprogress。Itfidgetsandgetsnofarther。Weshallseelaterthemagnificentproblemraisedbythisinertness。
　　Forthemoment，amostunexpectedfactclaimsallourattention。
　　IrefertotheextremereadinesswithwhichtheAnthrax’larvaquitsandreturnstotheChalicodomagrubonwhichitisfeeding。
　　Afterwitnessingflesheatinglarvaeathundredsandhundredsofmeals，IsuddenlyfindmyselfconfrontedwithamannerofeatingthatbearsnorelationtoanythingwhichIhaveseenbefore。I
　　feelmyselfinaworldthatbafflesmyoldexperience。Letusrecallthetablemannersofalarvalivingonprey，theAmmophila’sforinstance，whendevouringitscaterpillar。Aholeismadeinthevictim’sside;andtheheadandneckofthenurslingdivedeepintothewound，torootluxuriouslyamongtheentrails。Thereisneverawithdrawalfromthegnawedbelly，neverarecoiltointerruptthefeastandtotakebreathawhile。
　　Thevivaciousanimalalwaysgoesforward，chewing，swallowing，digesting，untilthecaterpillar’sskinisemptiedofitscontents。Onceseatedattable，itdoesnotbudgeaslongasthevictualslast。Toteaseitwithastrawisnotalwaysenoughtoinduceittowithdrawitsheadoutsidethewound;Ihavetouseviolence。Whenremovedbyforceandthenlefttoitsowndevices，thecreaturehesitatesforalongtime，stretchesitselfandmouthsaround，withouttryingtoopenapassagethroughanewwound。Itneedstheattackingpointthathasjustbeenabandoned。
　　Ifitfindsthespot，itmakesitswayinandresumestheworkofeating;butitsfutureisjeopardizedfromthistimeforward，forthegame，nowperhapstackledatinopportunepoints，isliabletogobad。
　　WiththeAnthrax’grub，thereisnoneofthismangling，noneofthispersistentclingingtotheentrancewound。Ihavebuttoteaseitwiththetipofahairpencilandforthwithitretires;
　　andthelensrevealsnowoundattheabandonedspot，nosucheffusionofbloodastherewouldbeiftheskinwereperforated。
　　Whenitssenseofsecurityisrestored，thegruboncemoreappliesitspimpleheadtothefosteringlarva，atanypoint，nomatterwhere;and，solongasmycuriositydoesnotpreventit，keepsitselffixedthere，withouttheleasteffort，ortheleastperceptiblemovementthatcouldaccountfortheadhesion。IfI
　　repeatthetouchwiththepencil，Iseethesamesuddenretreatand，soonafter，thesamecontactjustasreadilyrenewed。