WASPS, SOCIAL AND SOLITARY 



appeared once more. Now she pounced upon the 

 frightened spider but missed her aim, now she really 

 grasped it but was shaken off. At last the end came. 

 The wasp descended upon the doomed spider, and there 

 was a violent struggle, both the combatants rolhng over 

 and over upon the ground, while all that we could distin- 

 guish was the flashing of the red upon the body of the 

 wasp. In an instant it was over, and the wasp rose, 

 leaving the spider limp and motionless upon its back. 

 In our other examples of marginatus the spider taken 

 had been so small that the wasp might easily have held 

 it and thrust her sting into any spot that she pleased, 

 but this Lycosid was a different antagonist. Where the 

 two were so nearly matched, there could have been 

 but slight opportunity for skillful surgery. In point of 

 strength the wasp was at a disadvantage, and she 

 must have come off victor by the quick use of her sting. 

 Under these circumstances she must have struck when 

 and where she could, without selecting any particu- 

 lar spot. That she quite reahzed the power of her foe 

 was shown by her next action. With the utmost cir- 

 cumspection she settled down upon the spider and 

 made a prolonged and careful examination of the 

 mouth parts. The investigation was satisfactory, and 

 without any further stinging she seized the spider by 



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