162 WASPS AND THEIR WAYS 



ant; then when the little foe was well 

 exposed, it would dart at it and strike it 

 to the ground. 



*' The action was so quick that I could 

 not determine whether it struck with its 

 fore-feet or its jaws, but I think it was 

 with the feet. I often saw a wasp trying to 

 clear a leaf from ants that were already in 

 full possession of a cluster of leaf-hoppers. 

 It would sometimes have to strike three or 

 four times at an ant before it made it quit 

 its hold and fall. At other times one ant 

 after another would be struck off with great 

 celerity and ease, and I fancied that some 

 wasps were much cleverer than others. 



" In those cases where it succeeded in 

 clearing a leaf, it was never left long in 

 peace. 



'* Fresh relays of ants were continually 

 arriving, and generally tired the wasp out. 

 It would never wait for an ant to get 

 near it, doubtless knowing well that if its 

 little rival once fastened on its leg, it 



