I am afraid I shall never succeed in understanding how it is that the assailant has acquired her genius for sudden murder while the assailed, better armed and no less powerful, uses her dagger at random, and so far without effect.

If the one has learned something from the prolonged exercise of the attack, then the other should also have learned something from the prolonged exercise of defence, for attack and defence are of equal significance in the struggle for life.

Among the theorists of our day, is there any so far-sighted as to be able to solve this enigma?
I will take this opportunity of presenting a second point which embarrasses me; it is the carelessness--it is worse than that--the imbecility of the bee in the presence of the Philanthus.

One would naturally suppose that the persecuted insect, gradually instructed by family misfortune, would exhibit anxiety at the approach of the ravisher, and would at least try to escape.

But in my bell-glasses or wire-gauze cages I see nothing of the kind.