POLISTES 185 



it proceeded before flying away, to take 

 note of the place where it was leaving the 

 other half. To do this, it hovered in front 

 of it for a few seconds, then took small 

 circles in front of it, then larger ones 

 round the whole plant. 1 thought it had 

 gone, but it returned again, and had an- 

 other look at the opening in the dense 

 foliage down which the other half of the 

 caterpillar lay. It then flew away, but 

 must have left its burden for distribution 

 with its comrades at the nest, for it re- 

 turned in less than two minutes, and 

 making one circle around the bush, de- 

 scended to the opening, alighted on a leaf, 

 and ran inside. The green remnant of the 

 caterpillar was lying on another leaf inside, 

 but not connected with the one on which 

 the wasp alighted, so that in running in it 

 missed it and soon got hopelessly entangled 

 in the thick foliage. 



" Coming out again it took another 

 circle, and pounced down in the same spot 



