More Hunting Wasps 



Their attention is engrossed elsewhere. It 

 is the ground, it is the stretch of sand which 

 they are so assiduously exploring; what they 

 are waiting for is the arrival of some female, 

 who, bursting the cocoon, may appear from 

 one moment to the next, issuing all dusty 

 from the ground. She will not be given time 

 to brush herself or to wash her eyes: three 

 or four or more of them will be there at 

 once, eager to dispute her possession. I am 

 too familiar with the amorous contests of 

 the Hymenopteron clan to allow myself to 

 be mistaken. It is the rule for the males, 

 who are the earlier of the two, to keep a 

 close guard around the natal spot and watch 

 for the emergence of the females, whom 

 they pester with their pursuit the moment 

 they reach the light of day. This is the 

 motive of the interminable ballet of my 

 Scoliee. Let us have patience: perhaps we 

 shall witness the nuptials. 



The hours go by; the Pangonise and the 

 Gad-flies desert my umbrella; the Scoliae 

 grow weary and gradually disappear. It is 

 finished. I shall see nothing more to-day. 

 I repeat my laborious expedition to the Bois 

 des Issards over and over again; and each 

 time I see the males as assiduous as ever in 

 skimming over the ground. My persever- 

 36 



