76 THE SOLITARY WASPS. 



sometimes difficult to make their conditions quite normal, and] 

 for this reason we may have been, indirectly, the cause of their 

 death. 



The way in which our Oxyhelus carries its prey is peculiar to 

 itself. Bembex and PMlantJms also hold their prey under the 

 body but use the second pair of legs, so that it does not project 

 behind except at the moment of entrance into the nest. Qucbd- 

 rinotattis, as we could distinctly see, since she passed close to 

 us several times in quick succesison, clasps the head of her vic- 

 tim in the third pair of legs, and flying thus, with its whole body 

 sticking out behind her, she certainly presents a very remark- 

 able appearance. 



