THE EUMENIDAE 321 



FIG. 62. An unusual burrow of Odyncrus dorsalis. Natural size. 



parative ease, hugging it tightly all the while, alight at the 

 brink of the hole and push it in ahead of them, holding to 

 it as they lower it (see fig. 58) ; then they follow it into 

 the hole, remain inside for a few seconds perhaps a half- 

 minute and then come backing out. Sometimes the wasp 

 soars away directly in quest of other game; at other times 

 she sits down and washes her face for a moment, then rises 

 and poises on vibrating wings an inch or two above the 

 hole, turns around on the wing as if inspecting the site, 

 then circles about and flies away. She is calm, gentle and 

 composed in all the maneuvers, betrays no nervousness and 

 wastes no time in blustering. 



We had long suspected that this wasp builds not one 

 burrow but a group of burrows, and were glad to read 

 Iseley's statement of having seen one begin a second hole 



