, the Necrophori at the same
time uproot the gibbet, which eventually falls, dragged over by the
weight of its burden.

EXPERIMENT 4. The stake is slanting; the Mole touches the ground, but
at a point two inches from the base of the gibbet. The Burying-beetles
begin by digging to no purpose under the body. They make no attempt to
overturn the stake. In this experiment they obtain the Mole at last by
employing the usual method, that is by gnawing the bond.

THE BLUEBOTTLE LAYING HER EGGS IN THE SLIT OF A DEAD BIRD'S BEAK.

THE LYCOSA LIFTING HER WHITE BAG OF EGGS TOWARDS THE SUN, TO ASSIST THE
HATCHING.
The Lycosa lying head downwards on the edge of her pit, holding in her
hind-legs her white bag of eggs and lifting them towards the sun, to
assist the hatching.

THE BANDED EPEIRA INSCRIBING HER FLOURISH, AFTER FINISHING HER WEB.

THE BANDED EPEIRA LETTING HERSELF DROP BY THE END OF HER THREAD.

THE BANDED EPEIRA SWATHING HER CAPTURE.
The web has given way in many places during the struggle.

OSMIA-NESTS IN A BRAMBLE TWIG.

OSMIA-NESTS INSIDE A REED.

ARTIFICIAL HIVE INVENTED BY THE AUTHOR TO STUDY THE OSMIA'S LAYING.
It consists of reed-stumps arranged Pan-pipe fashion.

OLD NESTS USED BY THE OSMIA IN LAYING HER EGGS.

1. Nest of the Mason-bee of the Shrubs.

2. Osmia-grubs in empty shells of the Garden Snail.

3. Nests of the Mason-bee of the Sheds.

THE GLOW-WORM: a, male; b, female.

THE CABBAGE CATERPILLAR: a, the caterpillars; b, the cocoons of their
parasite, Microgaster glomeratus.

THE WONDERS OF INSTINCT.

CHAPTER 1. THE HARMAS.

This is what I wished for, hoc erat in votis: a bit of land, oh, not so
very large, but fenced in, to avoid the drawbacks of a public way; an
abandoned, barren, sun-scorched bit of land, favoured by thistles and
by Wasps and Bees. Here, without fear of being troubled by the
passers-by, I could consult the Ammophila and the Sphex (two species of
Digger-or Hunting-wasps.--Translator's Note.) and engage in that
difficult conversation whose questions and answers have experiment for
their language; here, without distant expeditions that take up my time,
without tiring rambles that strain my nerves, I could contrive my plans
of attack, lay my ambushes and watch their effects at every hour of the
day. Hoc erat in votis. Yes, this was my wish, my dream, always
cherished, always vanishing into the mists of the future.

And it is no easy ma