THE YELLOW WASP 279 



work of the navvies. Wasp after wasp came out of the hole 

 carrying lumps of earth, most of them, to suggest a rough 

 average, about as big as No. 4 shot. Some lumps were as 

 big as the head of the wasp. All the smaller lumps were 

 carried clean away. So far as could be seen none was 

 dropped within fifteen yards of the nest. It is probable that 

 the wasp must alight before letting go the burden. In order 

 to watch the wasp more easily a small red currant was 





THE WASP'S NEST REVEALED 



dropped into the hole. Within a quarter of an hour a wasp 

 appeared with the currant in her jaws, and as soon as she 

 reached the entrance she took flight with the usual abrupt 

 impetus. She was watched by several pairs of eyes, and the 

 burden was not deposited within twenty yards. Why the 

 animal should put itself to this superfluous labour is not 

 clear, unless physically she is not able to let go till she 

 settles ; and if many navvies alight close to the nest they 

 might announce the secret of the site. Sometimes the lump 

 was too heavy for the power of the wings to support. In 

 that case after several efforts it was let go, and generally 



