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Show HAIUIE'S CRUELTY. The Ichneumon Fly Make Its Natural Enemy Serve Its Purpose. The ichneumon fly of Ceylon is the natural enemy of the spider. This insect is green in color, and in form resemble a wa?n with a marvel ously thin waist. It makes its nest of well worked clay and then goes on a hunting expedition. Its victims r.re invariably spiders of va rious kinds, but all are subject to tht same mode of treatment A ecientifio sting injects some poison, which effectually effec-tually paralyzes the luckless spider, who is then carried off to the nest and there fastened with a dab of moist clay. Another and another victim is brought to this chamber of horrors. Then the prescient mother ichneumon fly proceeds to deposit her eggs, one m the body ol each spider, which can just move its legs in a vague, aimless manner, but can offer no resistance. This done, the fly returns to her work as a mason. Sho prepares more clay and builds up the entrance to this ghastly cell. Then 6he commences a new cell, which she furnishes in like manner, and then closes; then she adds yet anothei cell, and so proceeds until her store of eggs are all provided for, and her task I in life being accomplished she dies, leaving her evil brood to hatch at leisure. lei-sure. In due ' time these horrid little maggots come to life and find themselves them-selves cradled in a larder of fresh meat. Each poor spider is still alive, and his juices afford nutriment for the ichneumon ichneu-mon grub till it is ready to pass in the chrysalis stage, thence to emerge as a winged fly fully prepared to carry out Ihe traditions of its ancestors with re irard to spiders. AshtoD Beporter. |