WASPS, SOCIAL AND SOLITARY 



died within a week, while a few lived for thirty-five or 

 forty days. In this study we opened five hundred and 

 seventy-three cells and handled over two thousand spi- 

 ders, watching over them from day to day with a mag- 

 nifying glass, that no sign of life might be neglected. 



When Pelopaeus has filled her cell, she seals it up and 

 makes another close to it, clusters of from six to twenty 

 being found in one spot. Any especially desirable place 

 is used by great numbers; and they make a lively scene, 

 working eagerly at their nests, dashing off for more mud 

 or bringing in their victims. All animated by the same 

 compelling instinct, they are still individuals, and the 

 character of each enters into her work. One picks up 

 the first spider she sees, no matter how tiny it may 

 be, and makes twenty-five or thirty journeys before 

 her cell is filled, while another seems to have a calcu- 

 lating turn of mind, using four or five big spiders in- 

 stead of a quantity of small ones. Has she made a note 

 of the calibre of her cell, and determined to save herself 

 trouble by looking farther and selecting the largest 

 ones that will go in? 



Most of them place their cells vertically; but a few 

 prefer the horizontal position, while still others, unde- 

 cided as to the matter of direction, make clusters in 

 which some are horizontal and others upright. Occa- 



270 



