INTELLIGENCE OF WASPS 157 



concerned, they have remarkably efifective 

 powers of persuasion. They say to a man, 

 "Go," and he goeth forthwith. 



They are very quick and alert in their 

 movements and have a pretty way of turn- 

 ing their heads to look at one who has 

 made friends with them, so that they are 

 not frightened at his approach. 



Wasps, like bees, learn to know individ- 

 uals, and they have their likes and dislikes, 

 allowing some persons to approach their 

 nest unmolested, and stinging others. 



There was once a nest of little yellow- 

 jackets in a wood-shed, where whoever 

 entered was obliged to pass within a few 

 inches of it. This most people could do 

 with impunity. But there was a coloured 

 boy whom the black-and-yellow tenants of 

 the nest could not endure. They would 

 not allow him to enter the shed, or even . 

 to come within several yards of the door. 

 " They bite me whenever I go that way," 

 he complained, and he had not molested 



