40 WASPS AND THEIR WAYS 



tip, or " flagellum." The scape moves 

 freely at its point of union with the face, 

 by a round ball-and-socket joint, and so 

 serves to change the position of the flagel- 

 lum, v^hich is composed of numerous 

 small joints covered with hearing and 

 smelling organs of microscopic size. 

 At least we suppose they are so covered. 

 Curious little sense-organs certainly 

 there are on the antennae, and just as cer- 

 tainly the antennae are the organs of 

 scent, — though it may not be quite so 

 evident they are also organs of hearing. 

 However, it is believed they are. 

 There are eleven short joints in the 

 flagellum of the female wasp, and twelve 

 ^in that of the male. 

 Besides the organs of hearing and of 

 smell, the antenna bear a great number of 

 short tactile hairs which are so sensitive 

 that their little owners are doubtless able 

 by means of them to discover the shapes 

 and qualities of objects much more accu- 



