290 WASPS AND THEIR WAYS 



• Another wasp was once watched trailing 

 a spider that tried to escape by running 

 into a room and hiding. When the quarry 

 disappeared the wasp ran in narrowing 

 circles like a hound, and when it struck 

 the scent it followed all the turns the 

 spider had made, just as a dog would have 

 done. 



The wasp finally captured the spider, 

 and tucking it up under its long hind-legs, 

 just as a hawk carries otT its quarry, flew 

 away with it. 



A few species of wasps catch their 

 prey first and then dig the burrow. 

 Among these is a pretty little black 

 and white creature that rears her pro- 

 geny upon spiders. She catches her 

 spider and to save it from the ants 

 that are always lurking about, she 

 sometimes hangs it up in a plant while 

 she digs her burrow. She does not always 

 do this, and whether this very intelligent 

 act depends upon the prevalence of ants in 



