THE MINERS 297 



also the butterflies, which seem to take a 

 mischievous delight in tormenting the 

 wasps. 



Time and again when a wasp rises from 

 a flower a butterfly will also rise and flutter 

 its wings about the distracted wasp, which 

 tries to dodge this way and that to escape 

 its tormentor. 



One can almost see the wasp get out of 

 temper, and the frivolous butterfly laugh at 

 it. But getting out of temper with a but- 

 terfly is wasted energy; the broad, thin 

 wings are unstingable; and indeed the 

 wasp does not try to sting, but only to 

 dodge away from the mischievous and no 

 doubt heartily despised trifler. 



The butterfly can have no possible 

 object in interfering with the wasp other 

 than the mere fun of it, and one is glad to 

 discover that butterflies possess, like our- 

 selves, a sense of humour. 



In watching wasps one cannot fail to 

 make the intimate acquaintance of many 



