eat Cerceris (Cerceris tuberculata. Cf. "The Hunting
Wasps": chapters 2 and 3.--Translator's Note.) favours above all Cleonus
ophthalmicus, one of the largest of our Weevils; but at need she accepts
the other Cleoni, as well as the kindred genera, provided that the
capture be of an imposing size. Cerceris arenaria (Cf. idem: chapter
1.--Translator's Note.) extends her hunting-grounds farther afield:
any Weevil of average dimensions is to her a welcome capture. The
Buprestis-hunting Cerceris adopts all the Buprestes indiscriminately,
so long as they are not beyond her strength. The Crowned Philanthus (P.
coronatus, FAB.) fills her underground warehouses with Halicti chosen
among the biggest. (Cf. "Bramble-bees and Others" by J. Henri
Fabre, translated by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos: chapters 12 to
14.--Translator's Note.) Much smaller than her kinswoman, Philanthus
raptor, LEP., stores away Halicti chosen among the less large species.
Any adult Acridian approaching an inch in length suits the White-banded
Sphex. The various tidae of the neighbourhood are admitted to the larder
of Stizus ruficornis and of the Mantis-hunting Tachytes on the sole
condition of being young and tender. The largest of our Bembeces (B.
rostrata, FAB., and B. bidentata, VAN DER LIND (For the Rostrate
Bembex and the Two-pronged Bembex, cf. "The Hunting Wasps": chapter
14.--Translator's Note.)) are eager consumers of Gad-flies. With these
chief dishes they associate relishes levied indifferently from the rest
of the Fly clan. The Sandy Ammophila (A. sabulosa, VAN DER LIND (Cf.
idem: chapter 13.--Translator's Note.)) and the Hairy Ammophila
(A. hirsuta, KIRB.) cram into each burrow a single but corpulent
caterpillar, always of the Moth tribe and varying greatly in coloration,
which denotes distinct species. The Silky Ammophila (A. holosericea,
VAN DER LIND. (Cf. idem: chapter 14.--Translator's Note.)) has a better
assorted diet. She requires for each banqueter three or four items,
which include the Measuring-worms, or Loopers, and the caterpillars of
ordinary Moths, all of which are equally appreciated. The Brown-winged
Solenius (S. fascipennis, LEP.), who elects to dwell in the soft dead
wood of old willow-trees, has a marked preference for Virgil's Bee,
Eristalis tenax (Actually the Common Drone-fly and somewhat resembling
a Bee in appearance. Cf. "The Hunting Wasps": chapter 14.--Translator's
Note.), willingly adding, sometimes as a side-dish, som