HUNTERS OF LARGE ORTHOPTERA 185 



* V 4 



FIG. 42. A collection of cinders, exact size, carried in the mandibles 

 of P. thomae and deposited on the top of her burrow. 



Our flesh and bones were weary of sitting on all fours 

 on the cinders for two hours and it was growing late, but 

 still we were eager to see if Stilus would show any further 

 interest in the nest. We waited for five minutes and she did 

 not reappear, so we began to dig up the nest and had re- 

 moved enough soil to expose one of the hopper's tarsi when 

 behold! Stizus appeared upon the scene. We slipped back 

 and she came nearer and nearer to the nest by walking zig- 

 zag, following almost arcs of circles around the hole, with 

 her head close to the surface and antennae vibrating, until 

 she came to the nest. She located it apparently with less 

 difficulty than wasps sometimes experience in locating their 

 own nests. She approached in the manner of one familiar 

 with the situation and having business there. She kicked 

 away much of the filling until she had removed the hard 

 plug and arrived at the loose material beneath; then she 



