34 



WASPS AND THEIR WAYS 



time some conspicuous landmark has been 

 changed, as by the removal of a large leaf, 

 or a twig, or by the trampling down or 

 cutting away of the grass, when 

 they are as confused as human 

 beings would be under the same 

 .^^circumstances, and sometimes are 

 unable to find the place at all. 



Predatory insects, again, have 

 very large eyes, and are able to 

 distinguish the particular insect 

 they want, even at long range. 

 And any one who has hunted 

 the large fossorial wasps among 

 the goldenrod cannot doubt that these 

 wary insects see the approach of their 

 would-be captor. 



A tame yellow-jacket kept under a 

 tumbler immediately turned its head and 

 pointed its antennae at the approach of its 

 keeper. Its gesture irresistibly suggested 

 that it had seen the person coming ; and 

 the performances of the digger-wasps 



