THE MINERS 287 



to see that all is as they left it, leaving the 

 captured insect near the entrance. If the 

 result of their examination is favourable, 

 out comes the wasp and drags in the in- 

 sect. Once a French naturalist removed 

 the cricket one of these wasps had cap- 

 tured and placed close to the entrance to 

 her hole while she went in to reconnoitre. 

 It was placed several inches 

 away, but was shortly found by' 

 the wasp and dragged back to 

 the hole. Again her ladyship "'^i 

 went in to reconnoitre and again 

 the cricket was taken away. It 

 was found as before and dragged 

 back, while the wasp, true to her habit, 

 went in the hole and left it at the entrance. 

 The same thing was repeated over forty 

 times, until the patience of the experi- 

 menter gave out ; and one can imagine the 

 nervous condition of the wasp at this 

 unaccountable and persistent interference 

 with a matter that from her point of view 



