COMMON WASPS 



glass over the entrance of the burrow, after first flat- 

 tening the soil. When the Wasps began work again 

 next morning and found themselves checked in their 

 flight, would they succeed in making a passage under 

 the rim of the glass? Would these sturdy creatures, 

 who were capable of digging a spacious cavern, realise 

 that a very short underground tunnel would set them 

 free? That was the question. 



The next morning I found the bright sunlight falling 

 on the bell-glass, and the workers ascending in crowds 

 from underground, eager to go in search of provisions. 

 They butted against the transparent wall, tumbled 

 down, picked themselves up again, and whirled round 

 and round in a crazy swarm. Some, weary of dancing, 

 wandered peevishly at random and then re-entered their 

 dwelling. Others took their places as the sun grew 

 hotter. But not one of them, not a single one, scratched 

 with her feet at the base of the glass circle. This means 

 of escape was beyond them. 



Meanwhile a few Wasps who had spent the night 

 out of doors were coming in from the fields. Round and 

 round the bell-glass they flew; and at last, after much 

 hesitation, one of them decided to dig under the edge. 

 Others followed her example, a passage was easily 

 opened, and the Wasps went in. Then I closed the 

 passage with some earth. The narrow opening, if seen 



[145] 



