WASPS, SOCIAL AND SOLITARY 



Our Vespas began to work an hour or two after sun- 

 rise, and did not stop until dusk. One cloudy evening 

 when darkness fell early they continued to return to the 

 nest, being able to fly to the right spot without any hesi- 

 tation, although our vision did not permit us to see the 

 opening without going down on our knees and looking 

 closely. At last it grew perfectly dark, and we stuffed a 

 handkerchief into the hole, with the result that seventy- 

 five, coming home without a ray of light to guide them, 

 were shut out, and were found clustered about the spot 

 on the following morning. 



We wanted to estimate the amount of labor done by a 

 worker in a day, and so, rising one morning at the first 

 bird call, we went out into the freshness of dawn, and for 

 an hour had the world to ourselves; but a little before five 

 a few straggling wasps that had stayed out all night 

 began to bring in loads, and by half past seven they were 

 fairly under way. From half past four until twelve we 

 counted all that passed, 4534 going out and 3362 coming 

 home; and with all this activity there seemed to be no 

 pleasure excursions, for each one carried food when 

 returning, and took out a pellet of earth when leaving. 

 We once raised a little garden from the pellets that were 

 dropped on our porch table where we kept a bowl of 

 water. Wasps are great drinkers, and when they find 



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