244 WASPS AND THEIR WAYS 



greater or less industry according to her 

 individual character ; but the male doubt- 

 less discharges an important office in pro- 

 tecting the nest from parasites. We have 

 frequently seen him drive away the bril- 

 liant green Cbrysis fly, which is always 

 waiting about for a chance to enter an un- 

 guarded nest. On these occasions the 

 defence is carried on with great vigour, the 

 fly being pursued for some distance into 

 the air. There are usually two or three 

 unmated males flying about in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the nests, poking their heads 

 into unused holes, and occasionally trying 

 to enter one that is occupied, but never, so 

 far as we have seen, with any success, the 

 male in charge being always quite ready 

 and able to take care of his rights. The 

 males, however, made no objection when 

 strange females entered the nest, as they 

 sometimes did by mistake, nor did the 

 females object to the entrance of a strange 

 male when the one belonging to the nest 



