98 DELAGOA BAY. 



away a short distance and returned with a large 

 piece of ground-nut shell, which he stuffed into 

 the hole with much trouble and labour ; then, 

 as if recollecting how stupid he was, he dragged 

 it out again, dropped it a little way off, and 

 then fetched more rubbish, bits of stick or more 

 nutshell, which he carefully stuffed down the 

 hole and as hastily pulled out agaiu. How long 

 he would have continued this foolishness I 

 cannot say, because after about a dozen attempts 

 to bury something he was startled by some one 

 passing by, and flew away. 



These " waspy " insects are very interesting 

 to watch ; I sometimes see one carrying off a 

 grasshopper twice as big as himself, aud much 

 too heavy for his strength, which he has over- 

 come and paralysed. After a while he puts 

 it down to rest himself, generally flying off a 

 little way, and when he returns almost always 

 seems to forget where he left his prey, hunting 

 about for it most excitedly till at last he lights 

 upon it. 



Two species, Pelopceus spirifex, black and 



