More Hunting Wasps 



of her dwelling, her larvae, her cocoons, her 

 family-arrangements. All that I can affirm, 

 judging by the invariable nature of the prey 

 which one sees her dragging along, is that 

 she must feed her larva? on the same non- 

 adult Cricket that the Yellow-winged Sphex 

 chooses for hers. 



Is she a poacher, a pillager of other's 

 property, or a genuine huntress? My suspi- 

 cions are persistent, though I know how 

 chary a man should be of suspicions. At 

 one time I had my doubts about Panzer's 

 Tachytes, whom I grudged a prey to which 

 the White-banded Sphex might have laid 

 claim. To-day I have no such doubts: she 

 is an honest worker and her game is really 

 the result of her hunting. While waiting 

 for the truth to be revealed and my suspi- 

 cions set aside, I will complete the little that 

 I know of her by noting that the Black 

 Tachytes passes the winter in the adult form 

 and away from her cell. She hibernates, 

 like the Hairy Ammophila. In warm, shel- 

 tered places, with low, perpendicular, bare 

 banks, dear to the Wasps, I am certain of 

 finding her at any time during the winter, 

 however briefly I investigate the earthen 

 I surface, riddled with galleries. I find the 

 I Tachytes cowering singly in the hot oven 

 136 



