Chapter III 



THE GREAT GOLDEN DIGGER 



THIS wasp (Sphex ichneumonea Linn.) is one of 

 our most beautiful species, its great size and its 

 brilliant color, as it flies among the flowers, serving to 

 make it well known to all observers of nature. During 

 the later part of July, all through August, and even in the 

 early days of September it is commonly found at work 

 making or storing its burrow. It is rare in our garden, 

 however, and we thought ourselves fortunate in being 

 able to keep track of one individual from the making to 

 the closing of the nest. Although large and powerful it 

 is gracefully formed. In color it is brown, varied with 

 bright yellow. 



On the morning of the third of August, at a little after 

 ten o'clock, we saw one of these hunters start to dig a 

 nest on the side of a stony hill. After making some pro- 

 gress in the work she flew off and selected a second place, 

 where she dug so persistently that we felt confident that 

 this was to be her final resting-place; but when the hole 



56 



