THE BURROWERS 



another beginning was made in a new place. Again 

 something was wrong, nor was a third choice any better. 

 At last, however, the work was started in earnest, and 

 might have been carried to a conclusion if we had not 

 caught the little creature to satisfy a suspicion that had 

 been growing in our minds. Yes, we were right. The 

 workrr was not a female making a nest for the rearing 

 of her young, but a male punctatus, preparing a shelter 

 for the night. 



In the mean time the first wasp had pushed back such 

 a quantity of earth that the hole was entirely closed, but 

 every few minutes he came backing out to clear the way. 

 At the end of half an hour all became quiet. The door 

 remained closed, and doubtless the wasp was fast asleep. 

 Putting a blade of grass and then an inverted tumbler 

 over the nest, we left him for the night. 



On removing the glass at half past seven the next 

 morning, we found the nest open but the wasp not visi- 

 ble. At half past eight the head appeared just inside the 

 hole, the long antennae twitching now to this side, now 

 to that, as if an inspection were being made. Soon the 

 head came out. The wasp stood for some minutes mak- 

 ing a survey, looking to right and left with lively jerks 

 of the body. Then, apparently concluding that the day 

 \vas not far enough advanced, he came out, whirled 



165 



