WASPS, SOCIAL AND SOLITARY 



In a few moments a small Epeira strix (the only species 

 to be found on the cottage) was dislodged, and at once 

 dropped to the floor of the porch. The wasp paid no 

 further attention to it, but went on with her search. 

 Three more spiders, one after the other, were disturbed 

 and dropped to the floor without being followed. The 

 fifth one discovered was a little larger than the others, 

 and was seized by the jaws and first legs of the wasp 

 before it had time to escape. It was then rolled into a 

 ball, or at least so it appeared, and stung, then rolled 

 a little more and stung again, and then carried off. We 

 had scarcely drawn breath after this performance 

 when a second wasp appeared. This one dislodged two 

 spiders, and then caught a third, which was seized and 

 stung without any rolling, and then instantly borne 

 away. A third wasp seized the first spider that she 

 found, and started on her flight at the same moment, 

 stinging it on the wing. 



So the game went on, while we waxed warm with the 

 excitement and fascination of the chase. As the hours 

 went by some of the yellow mud-daubers appeared, 

 adding to the interest of the scene, although we could 

 not see that their method differed in the least from that 

 of cceruleus. 



Rarely did they succeed in catching a spider until 

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