PAGE
I. [The Sacred Beetle]1
II. [The Enclosure]27
III. [Cerceris Bupresticida]40
IV. [Cerceris Tuberculata]51
V. [One Skilful to Slay]67
VI. [The Yellow-winged Sphex]80
VII. [Three Strokes of a Dagger]93
VIII. [Larva and Nymph]101
IX. [Advanced Theories]116
X. [The Sphex of Languedoc]132
XI. [The Science of Instinct]146
XII. [The Ignorance of Instinct]164
XIII. [An Ascent of Mont Ventoux]179
XIV. [The Emigrants][[x]]193
XV. [The Ammophila]205
XVI. [The Bembex]219
XVII. [Hunting Diptera]233
XVIII. [A Parasite—The Cocoon]243
XIX. [The Return to the Nest]258
XX. [Mason Bees]271
XXI. [Experiments]289
XXII. [An Exchange of Nests]306
[Descriptive Notes] 317

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[[Contents]]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

[The Sacred Beetle]Frontispiece
[Dung Beetles gathering Provender]Facing page 6
[Geotrupes stercorarius fighting for the Pellet]12
[Cerceris bupresticida and its Prey; Bupresticis micans and Buprestis flavomaculata]46
[Cerceris tuberculata dragging Weevil to its Burrow]54
[Cerceris ferreri and its Prey, the Weevil; Rhynchites betulæ on Birch Leaves, showingtwo leaves rolled up by the Weevil]58
[Sphex flavipennis about to seize Grasshopper]120
[Sphex occitanica taking a Sun Bath]136
[The Sphex of Languedoc dragging to its Burrow an Ephippiger of the Vine]156
[The Sphex of Languedoc and its enemy, the Praying Mantis][[xii]]166
[Ammophila hirsuta attacking a Grub]194
[Ammophila sabulosa taking stone to cover its Burrow; A. argentata Mining]207
[Ammophila hirsuta hunting for Caterpillars; Ammophila sabulosa on the Wing]208
[Bembex rostrata taking Gadfly to its Nest; Bembex rostrata Mining]240
[Mason Bees—Chalicodoma muraria on Old Nest]272
[Mason Bees—Chalicodoma sicula and Nest] 280

[[1]]

[[Contents]]

I

THE SACRED BEETLE

This was how it came about. We were five or six, I the oldest and their professor, still more their comrade and friend; they, young fellows with warm hearts and lively imaginations, overflowing with that youthful vitality which makes one so open to impressions and so eager for knowledge.