WASPS AND BEES. 159 



being stung, and feed on their bodies afterwards. 

 This I know to be the case with the flycatchers and 

 the different species of wagtails, which birds, I 

 think, most frequently feed on hymenopterous 

 insects. Wasps are also extremely fond of all the 

 smooth caterpillars, though they dislike the hairy 

 ones. Blue-bottle-flies are also a favourite article 

 of diet, perhaps even more so than bees, as they 

 possibly possess a more " gamey " flavour. 



