POLISTES 183 



Like Vespa, Polistes leaves the nest at 

 the approach of cold weather ; the queens, 

 after mating, find a safe place in which to 

 pass the winter, and the drones play about 

 in the sun until they succumb to the 

 inclemency of the season. 



A number of these homeless drones 

 were once watched on a Massachusetts 

 hillside. 



They had long, drooping antennae and 

 white faces. 



Each had its favourite rock where it took 

 its station on the sun-warmed south side, 

 and none would allow another to come 

 near its place. 



When one, perhaps tired of his own rock, 

 tried to sun himself on his neighbour's 

 boulder, there was trouble. The invaded 

 wasp flew at the intruder ; they grappled 

 and rolled head over heels among the 

 leaves ; then the original occupant returned 

 in triumph to his rock, and the intruder 

 flew away. 



