Chapter VI 



AN ISLAND SETTLEMENT 



OUR children often made themselves useful by re- 

 porting finds in the shape of nests, and one day 

 they returned from the island with a wonderful tale of 

 great numbers of big wasps that were digging in the 

 ground. " I don't know what they are," said the small 

 boy, " but they act to me like the maddest kind of hor- 

 nets." With this attractive picture before us, we lost no 

 time in going over to the spot, where we found a thriving 

 colony of Bembex spinolae. On our approach they fell 

 upon us, "desire of blood, and rage, and lust of fight" in 

 their mien, and chased us to a distance, but without in- 

 flicting a single wound. This temperance was not due to 

 gentleness of disposition, but to the fact that Bembex is 

 not at all handy with her sting, her body being too large 

 and clumsy to curve and give the lightning stab as other 

 wasps do. With renewed courage we again approached 

 them, more cautiously this time, and soon learned that 

 if we preserved an extremely composed and dignified 

 demeanor our presence on the field would be tolerated. 



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