COMMUNAL LIFE 



such a provision they come frequently to refresh them- 

 selves, dropping their loads as they alight. This habit 

 of holding on to their loads until they settle down may 

 perhaps make them a factor in extending the boundaries 

 of plant distribution, both under ordinary conditions 

 and when, as must often happen with little creatures 

 flying so high, they are blown to long distances from 

 home. 



Having kept close track not only of the numbers, but of 

 the hours, each count 

 being made to cover 

 five minutes, we were 

 able to calculate that 

 an average trip occu- 

 pied forty-three min- 

 utes. When we met 

 these wasps in the 

 garden they never 

 seemed to be hurry- 

 ing, and had the air 

 of amusing them- 

 selves ; but they must 

 be faithful workers to 

 accomplish so much. The curious fact has been estab- 

 lished that when food is very plentiful the workers 



PAPER NEST WITH SIDE REMOVED TO 

 SHOW CONSTRUCTION OF COMBS 



II 



