THE HUNTRESS WASPS 



ing studies, The Solitary Was^ps, show that such recovery 

 is extremely rare. It is one of the unhappy possibilities 

 in a spider's destiny that it may abide in a living death 

 within a dark vault awaiting the awakening appetite 

 of a voracious worm. But we may believe that nat- 

 ure has so far tempered this doom as to destroy all 

 consciousness of its condition and consequent suffering 

 therein. The proof is wellnigh conclusive that sensa- 



BLUE MUD-DAUBER WASP CARRYING OFF AN ORBWEAVING 

 SPIDER FROM ITS WEB 



215 



