212 WASPS AND THEIR WAYS 



fort, and going back to sit in triumph on 

 her castle wall, after having chased Num- 

 ber Two away. 



As all the cells were closed and no new 

 ones being made, it was not at first appar- 

 ent what the fuss was about. Presently, 

 however. Number One, having been left in 

 peace for a few moments, began to tap the 

 cells with her antennae, and finally she 

 began to gnaw a hole in the end of one of 

 them. What did it mean ? Was she un- 

 capping her rival's cell ? Did she mean to 

 destroy the helpless larva and scatter the 

 enclosed spiders ? 



The observer watched with breathless 

 interest until finally a round hole was so 

 neatly made that the cell looked exactly 

 like one that had not yet been capped. 

 Andlo! this cell was empty! The wasp 

 went in and examined it ; evidently find- 

 ing all as she had left it, she flew off' and 

 soon returned with a spider which she 

 deposited in the far end of the cell, after % 



