ROMANCE OF THE INSECT WORLD CHAP. 



somewhat common in the eastern counties. Am- 

 mophila afford an excellent instance of the ordinary 

 manner in which these insects prepare their burrow. 

 It consists of a long, narrow gallery, opening into an 

 enlarged chamber, a formation calculated to enable 

 the mother, after storing the prey she has secured, to 

 regain the surface. She descends into the tunnel 

 backwards, dragging her burden after her, and were 

 it the same size in every part, there would be 

 no room for her to creep from under the food, and to 

 pass out. The genus Pelopaeus are inhabitants 

 principally of warm climates. Many are excellent 

 masons, and may be watched at muddy puddles, 

 kneading and rolling up clay into spherical pellets, and 

 carrying them off in their mandibles to form the future 

 residences (see Fig.. 8). The oddest spots imaginable are 

 often chosen for their sites. Sometimes a cell is 

 separately constructed ; sometimes one is placed over 

 another ; but generally the nest is composed of 

 a number of cells, built side by side upon the 

 same horizontal line, each being filled with food 

 and closed as completed. The whole is covered 

 exteriorly with a smooth coating of mud. The 

 mothers are bold and fearless hunters, and think 

 little of attacking strong and well-armed spiders. 

 Doubtless their sting is a terrible weapon, and 

 when once the enemy is struck, taken unawares 

 it may be, all is over. But the spider, if on the out- 

 look, sometimes manages to cast its web-threads over 

 the Pelopaeus, and paralyses its movements ere the 

 fatal arrow is shot. Soft plump spiders, one would 

 naturally think, would be chosen by the wasps. 



