186 



THE SOLITARY WASPS. 



"We liave tabulated below tbe results obtained from our study 

 of tbe forty nests above referred to: 



Table No. 1. — Shoiving condition of spiders found stored in 40 

 nests — 1-4 days old. 



Tbe table shows tbat about tbirty-tbree per cent, of tbe spi- 

 ders are so skillfully stung tbat tbey are only paralyzed, wbile 

 tbe remainder are so poorly stung tbat tbey are killed. After 

 deatb tbey begin to dry up but remain in good condition for at 

 least twelve or fourteen days. As compared witb otber species 

 of tbe same genus our wasps excel tbose of France, wbicb, Fabre 

 bas found, almost invariably kill tbeir prey at once, but tbey 



