188 THE SOLITARY WASPS. 



fifteen. At this rate the nest could be filled in about sixty 

 minutes, and even if it took two or three times as long the 

 change in the condition of the spiders would be insignificant. 

 If, in stocking her larder, Pelopaeus had to hunt as long for her 

 spiders as Ammophila does for her caterpillars, we might find 

 in the deposition of the egg upon the first one secured "the 

 happy arrangement 77 so much dwelt upon by M. Fabre. We 

 quote the following notes kindly made for us by Mr. S. N". Dun- 

 ning, on P. cementarius. 



Pelopaeus cementarius. 

 July 13, 1896. 



"Four cells finished. !N"est formed on wall near ceiling in 

 home at Hartford, Ct. 



"Cell !N"o. 1 contained pupa surrounded by a glutinous mem- 

 brane and the legs of spiders. 



"Cell No. 2 contained pupa surrounded by glutinous mem- 

 brane but no spiders, legs or leavings of any kind. 



"Cell No. 3 contained a larva just ready to pupate and a few 

 remnants of legs of spiders. 



"Cell No. 4 contained a young larva 1-4 in. long and 11 

 medium sized spiders (oblong shaped and 3-8 in. long) of what 

 appeared to be two species of which 8 were black and 3 grayish. 

 Of these the legs of ten could be made to quiver but one was 

 apparently quite dead. 



"A fifth cell, finished all excepting the entrance, contained 

 one spider which was easily made to quiver its legs. There was 

 no egg. 77 



After the egg is laid and the nest closed up the duties of the 

 mother are over and that cell and its contents are abandoned 

 to their fate. More mud is brought, more nests are built and 

 more eggs are laid, but further responsibility for her offspring 

 she knows not. If all goes well, in from two to three days, de- 

 pending on the temperature, the larva hatches and begins to eat 

 the spider to which it is attached, finishing the abdomen in one 

 day if it is of medium size. Quite commonly the larva eats 



