第41章 CHANGE OF DIET(3)

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, sometimes as the principal game, Helophilus pendulus, whose costume is very different. On the faith of indistinguishable remains, we must no doubt enter a number of other Flies in her game-book. The Golden-mouthed Hornet (Crabro chrysostomus, LEP.)another burrower in old willow-trees, prefers the Syrphi, without distinction of species. (The Syrphi, like the Eristales, resemble Bees through having the abdomen transversely banded with yellow.--Translator's Note.) The Wandering Solenius (S. vagus, LEP. (For this Fly-hunting insect cf. "Bramble-bees and Others": chapters 1 and 3.--Translator's Note.)), an inmate of the dry bramble-stems and of the dwarf-elder, lays under contribution for her larder the genera Syritta, Sphaerophoria, Sarcophaga, Syrphus, Melanophora, Paragus and apparently many others. The species which recurs most frequently in my notes is Syritta pipiens.

Without pursuing this tedious list any farther, we plainly perceive the general result. Each huntress has her characteristic tastes, so much so that, when we know the bill of fare, we can tell the genus and very often the species of the guest, thus proving the proud truth of the maxim, "Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are."There are some which always need the same prey. The offspring of the Languedocian Sphex religiously consume the Ephippiger, that family dish so dear to their ancestors and no less dear to their descendants; no innovation in the ancient usages can tempt them. Others are better suited by variety, for reasons connected with flavour or with facility of supply;but then the selection of the game is kept within fixed limits. A natural group, a genus, a family, more rarely almost a whole order: this is the hunting-ground beyond which poaching is strictly forbidden. The law is absolute; and one and all scrupulously refrain from transgressing it.

In the place of the Praying Mantis, offer the Mantis-hunting Tachytes an equivalent in the shape of a Locust. She will scorn the morsel, though it would seem to be of excellent flavour, seeing that Panzer's Tachytes prefers it to any other form of game. Offer her a young Empusa, who differs so widely from the Mantis in shape and colour: she will accept without hesitation and operate before your eyes. Despite its fantastic appearance, the Devilkin is instantly recognized by the Tachytes as a Mantid and therefore as game falling within her scope.

In exchange for her Cleonus, give to the Great Cerceris a Buprestis, the delight of one of her near kinsfolk. She will have nothing to say to the sumptuous dish. Accept that! She, a Weevil-eater! Never in this world!

Present her with a Cleonus of a different species, or any other large Weevil, of a sort which she has most probably never seen before, since it does not figure on the inventory of the provisions in her burrows. This time there is no show of disdain: the victim is seized and stabbed in the regulation manner and forthwith stored away.

Try to persuade the Hairy Ammophila that Spiders have a nutty flavour, as Lalande asserts; and you will see how coldly your hints are received.

(Joseph Jerome Le Francois de Lalande (1732-1807), the astronomer. Even after he had achieved his reputation, he sought means, outside the domain of science, to make himself talked about and found these in the display partly of odd tastes, such as that for eating Spiders and caterpillars, and partly of atheistical opinions.--Translator's Note.) Try merely to convince her that the caterpillar of a Butterfly is as good to eat as the caterpillar of a Moth. You will not succeed. But, if you substitute for her underground larva, which I suppose to be grey, another underground larva striped with black, yellow, rusty-red or any other tint, this change of coloration will not prevent her from recognizing, in the substituted dish, a victim to her liking, an equivalent of her Grey Worm.