Chapter VII 



THE BURROWERS 



DUFOUR, in describing the fearful ravages of Cer- 

 ceris ornata among the bees, says that the wasps 

 of this genus are among other insects what eagles and 

 hawks are among birds. While this characterization 

 does not seem to fit the American species, it is certainly 

 true that the genus stands out as one of those in which 

 the distinctive peculiarities are strongly marked. They 

 might be considered the aristocrats in the world of wasps, 

 their habits of reposeful meditation and their calm, un- 

 hurried ways being far removed from the nervous man- 

 ners of the Pompilidae or the noisy, tumultuous life of 

 Bembex. Their intelligence is shown by their reluctance 

 to betray their nests, and by their uneasiness at any 

 slight change in the objects that surround them. It is 

 not necessary to attempt to catch them or to make 

 threatening gestures, in order to arouse their sense of 

 danger. If you are sitting quietly by a nest when the 

 wasp opens her door in the morning she will notice you 

 at once, and will probably drop out of sight as though 



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