The Travellers 



uriously in the hottest rays, or it will even 

 timidly venture outside and, step by step, 

 stroll over the surface of the spongy bank, 

 polishing its wings as it goes. Even so does 

 the little Grey Lizard behave, when the sun 

 once more begins to warm the old wall that 

 represents his native land. 



But vain would be our search in winter, 

 even in the most sheltered refuges, for a 

 Cerceris, Sphex, Philanthus, Bembex or other 

 Wasp with carnivorous grubs. All died 

 after their autumnal labours and their race is 

 not represented, in the cold season, save by 

 the larvae slumbering in their cells. It is, 

 then, by a most rare exception that the Hairy 

 Ammophila, hatched in the hot season, spends 

 the following winter in some warm shelter; 

 and this is the reason why she appears so 

 very early in the spring. 



With these data to go upon, let us try to 

 explain the cluster of Ammophilae which I 

 observed on the ridges of Mont Ventoux. 

 What could these numerous Wasps have been 

 doing, heaped up under their stone? Were 

 they preparing to take up their winter- 

 quarters there and, slumbering under cover, 

 to await the season favourable to their work? 

 Everything tends to show that this is im- 

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