164 WASPS AND THEIR WAYS 



thirty were upon me, but I got off with 

 about half a dozen stings, as I managed to 

 kill the rest as they made their way through 

 the hair of my head and beard ; for these 

 wasps, having generally to do with animals 

 covered with hair, do not fly at the open 

 face, but at the hair of the head, and push 

 down through it to the skin before they 

 sting. On this and on another occasion 

 on which I was attacked by them, I had 

 not a single sting on the exposed portion 

 of my face, although my hands were stung 

 in killing them in my hair. It is curious 

 to note that the large black wasp that 

 makes its nest under the verandas of 

 houses and eaves of huts, and has had to 

 deal with man as his principal foe, flies 

 directly at the face when molested." 



V ^^- 



