THE SAND-LOVING AMMOPHILA 237 



day we were watching an A. pictipennis taking her caterpillar 

 home at a galloping speed. Suddenly, we knew not whence, 

 a male swooped down upon her. She was knocked from her 

 caterpillar, but at once resumed her work; she appeared 

 much confused and bothered by his persistent intrusion, but 

 she did not pay him any particular heed. To our surprise, 

 another male, in great agitation dashed down and violently 

 bumped the first one, and for a few seconds fought for her 

 possession; then it departed. After perhaps three minutes 

 the first male departed unceremoniously. The female 

 showed no concern for either his presence or his departure, 

 but went ahead with her work, as though glad to be at peace 

 again. 



Sphex (Ammophila) procera Dahlb. [S. A. Rohwer]. 



A three-mile walk along a country road on September 9 

 gave us many glimpses of Ammophila procera along the 

 way. We soon learned that when we saw a member of this 

 species in the sunny spots in the road, we would presently see 

 the second nearby. They seem always to play and frolic in 

 pairs. The two would whirl about each other in the air, 

 in a playful manner, then one would suddenly fly in a straight 

 line along the wagon-track in the road, with the other close 

 behind it. The leader would then come to a rest on the 

 road or on a stone, and the other would at once do the 

 same some distance away. Sometimes they would sit thus 

 ignoring one another for from three to five minutes, when 

 one would rise and hover or poise over the other resting 

 individual; this seemed to be a signal to follow, and so it 

 usually did. Sometimes, however, like playful children, they 

 could not readily be coaxed away in this manner, but the 

 leader would make a few circuits in the air a few inches 



