THE SPIDER-HUNTERS 



the hole is filled the spot is covered with pellets of earth 

 and pebbles brought from a little distance, very much 

 as is done by Ammophila. 



When we found that quinquenotatus was a very com- 

 mon species, and that nearly every day brought us a 

 fresh example, we thought that we had the question 

 of its stinging habits in our own hands. What could 

 be easier than to carry a strix about with us and to ex- 

 change it, when opportunity offered, for the paralyzed 

 spider of the wasp? The good results obtained by 

 Fabre and Marchal from this manoeuvre made us con- 

 fident of success. We did not doubt that when the wasp 

 came for her spider and found it livelier than it ought 

 to be, she would repeat the stinging operation before 

 our eyes. 



Accordingly, the next time that we saw quinquenota- 

 tus digging we made a diligent search for her spider, 

 and soon found it on a bean plant five feet away. Just 

 as we discovered it, however, the wasp swooped down 

 and carried it to some purslain, close to the hole, where 

 she hung it up again, while she went to make her final 

 preparations at the nest. We seized our chance, and 

 quickly substituted a fresh strix for the one that had 

 been paralyzed. According to the habit of its species 

 when danger threatens, it kept perfectly quiet, and when 



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