284 WASP STUDIES AFIELD 



wasps. They were resting or flying idly around among 

 the rocks and along the sunny railroad track below ; by far 

 the greatest numbers were to be seen in the sheltering 

 crevices of rocks in the cliff. Careful examination of the 

 swarms proved that the wasps were all of the one species, 

 all queens, and most interesting of all points that they 

 were all gregarious. We did not on that day find a single 

 solitary individual. Many of the groups were small, from 

 three to ten queens, and others were larger; we estimated 

 three colonies to contain from twenty-five to fifty wasps 

 each, and one about a hundred resting quietly together, 

 while a fourth colony was enormous we do not think an 

 estimate of a thousand would be excessive. Even the mem- 

 bers of this large group were so docile that we could easily 

 approach near enough to them to ascertain the sex. At the 

 side of the stream below, many were drinking water. It 

 was, of course, too early in the season for nest-building, 

 but we were elated with the thought that a little later in the 

 season we should find a wonderful supply of material for 

 observing how they begin to build their nests. 



A few dead wasps were found scattered about the ledges, 

 and frequently, when we chipped off a piece of loose rock, 

 a dead queen was to be found in the cranny behind it. 

 In two spots there was evidence that this elimination 

 had been particularly heavy. On the ledge behind two 

 colonies of mason-bees were a great many wings of these 

 insects, but no bodies. These two sites were probably good 

 places for annularis to spend the winter, and also good 

 places for a lizard, a mole or a bat to come and feed. It 

 was evident that the wasps had not died a natural death, 

 since only the wings remained. Whatever may have been 

 their fate, it seems that their severe sting has availed noth- 

 ing in giving them protection. 



Later in the season, June 25, we returned to this place 



