THE SPIDER-HUNTERS 



through this squeezing process again and again, and 

 to us it looked as though she might be trying to force 

 back the juices from the legs into the body preparatory 

 to cutting them off; but after a time she would seize her 

 prey and start on again. She had made her way along 

 in this fashion for some ten feet, when a second wasp 

 appeared and alighted on a weed near by. This inter- 

 loper was a trifle smaller than the other, and from her 

 actions was evidently greatly interested in the paralyzed 

 spider. When the Pompilus stopped for a moment the 

 other moved from stem to stem in a stealthy manner 

 just as a cat stalks a bird. The rightful owner of the 

 prey was disturbed and dashed at her, driving her away 

 again and again, but she flew only a short distance and 

 was soon back, always creeping nearer and nearer to 

 the spider. We, too, were watching with closest atten- 

 tion, but our desire was to see the speedy homecoming 

 of Pompilus and to learn whether she cut off the legs 

 of her victim; and so, interesting as was the contest 

 between the wasp and the wasp-inquiline, we decided 

 to interfere and remove the intruder. This was very 

 easily accomplished, since the little insect was so intent 

 upon following the spider that she was oblivious to our 

 presence, and allowed us to place a bottle over her as 

 she stood eagerly looking for a chance to advance. Her 



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