ain. As the
caterpillar moves about, these seeming rice grains are rubbed off and
fall to the ground. Next year there will come up new ichneumon flies
to sting fresh caterpillars and repeat the entire process.

Another remarkable provision for the young on the part of insects is
seen in the behavior of the big sphex wasp, known as the cicada
killer. The cicada, it will be remembered, is what is commonly called
a locust. The cicada killer is a magnificent big wasp, whose body is
nearly an inch long, banded with black and yellow, while the wings are
colored a smoky brown. This muscular wasp digs a long tunnel eight or
ten inches deep, which ends in a slightly larger room. Having provided
the location, he now sallies forth in search of the cicada. The heavy
song of the male probably serves as a guide to the wasp in case of
scarcity of cicadas, but the killer has apparently little difficulty
in finding his prey. The wasp pounces upon the insect, and in spite of
its strength and the thrashing of its vigorous wings punctures it with
his sting again and again. The poison of the sting entering into the
nerve centers gradually paralyzes, but usually does not kill, the
cicada. Now the killer carries its prey home, pushes it to the bottom
of the tunnel and deposits upon it a single egg. The wasp closes up
the hole and leaves the place. When the egg hatches and the grub of
the wasp emerges, it finds a big cicada just at hand, upon which it
feeds. By the time the cicada is completely devoured, the wasp grub
has obtained its full growth. After a short period of development a
new sphex wasp is ready to work its way out of the tunnel, find a
mate, dig a hole, and safely provide for its own children.

Still more remarkable adaptations for the care of the young appear
among the birds. Here the eggs are not to be deserted, but are to be
cared for until the young appear. These again must have attention
until such time as they are quite able to take care of themselves. The
birds are warm-blooded animals, and even their young, while they are
developing in the egg, are warm-blooded. Consequently the temperature
of the egg must be maintained evenly and uniformly, or there will be
no development.

The fish may drop its eggs carelessly upon the bottom of the stream. A
frog may deposit them in a mass of jelly and leave them forever. A
turtle may bury its eggs in a sand bank and abandon them to their
fate. The warm blood of the young bird deman