272 WASPS AND THEIR WAYS 



guide, and the borders of the forest were 

 not nearer than half a mile. The Mone- 

 dula signata is a good friend to travellers 

 in those parts of the Amazons which are 

 infested with the bloodthirsty Motuca. 

 I first noticed its habit of preying on this 

 fly one day when we landed to make our 

 fire and dine, on the borders of the forest 

 adjoining a sand-bank. The insect is as 

 large as a hornet, and has a most waspish 

 appearance. 



" I was rather startled when one out of 

 the flock which was hovering about us 

 flew straight at my face ; it had espied a 

 Motuca on my neck, and was thus pounc- 

 ing upon it. It seizes the fly, not with its 

 mandibles, but with its fore and middle 

 feet, and carries it oif tightly held to its 

 breast. Wherever the traveller lands in 

 the Upper Amazons in the neighbourhood 

 of a sand-bank, he is sure to be attended 

 by one or more of these useful vermin- 

 killers." 



