WASPS, SOCIAL AND SOLITARY 



we were puzzled once, when we saw an urnaria that had 

 stored her second caterpillar and closed her nest perma- 

 nently, spend the rest of her morning in hunting. Why 

 in hunting? She had not dug a nest, she could not lay 

 another egg at once, she did not want a caterpillar, for 

 when we offered her one she stung it and then left it lying 

 on the ground. The sun was bright, the sorrel- blossoms 

 invited her. Surely it would have been the part of a ra- 

 tional wasp to have passed the rest of the day in feasting 

 and fun. 



We have said that urnaria stores two caterpillars, but 

 this rule is not without its exception. It was on the last 

 day of the summer that on a visit to our dear and fruit- 

 ful potato field, we came upon a wasp of almost double 

 the ordinary size, that made, when flying, a loud hum 

 that at once attracted attention. She was just complet- 

 ing and closing her nest, and we determined to watch 

 and see what kind of a victim she would bring in, as 

 it seemed improbable that this great creature would 

 content herself with the ordinary fare of the species. 

 The opening to the nest measured half an inch in dia- 

 meter. 



It was eleven o'clock when she flew away. At half past 

 twelve she reappeared, coming from the direction of the 

 woods, opened her nest, and took out a few more pellets. 

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