INTELLIGENCE OF WASPS I63 



would be a difficult matter to get rid of 

 it again. 



" If a wasp first obtained possession it 

 was able to keep it, for the first ants that 

 came up were only pioneers, and by 

 knocking these off it prevented them from 

 returning and scenting the* trail to com- 

 municate the intelligence to others." 



Wasps, as we already know, form their 

 habits according to their environment. 

 Those living near human habitations are 

 more friendly than those living in the wil- 

 derness, and they learn to eat the food of 

 man. 



It seems the wasps even learn to sting 

 according to circumstances. Our wasps 

 fly directly at the bare face or hands if they 

 have any pointed remarks to make. 



Mr. Belt says of the wasps of Nicara- 

 gua, — 



" I got severely stung by a number of 

 small wasps, whose nest I had disturbed 

 in passing under some bushes. About 



