402 TROPICAL WILD LIFE IN BRITISH GUIANA 



inches of water. When bailed out, a pasty layer of clay 

 would be left in tlie bottom of each. This material, a ready 

 made mortal-, i)r()ved attractive to a number of was])s, which 

 used mud in the construction of tlieii- nests. Tiny little reed- 

 wasps, medium-sized ones, i)i<> blue huntresses, danbers and 

 a dozen others collected at this abundant ])n})lic property. 

 Here, side by side, they fathered their building material, 

 all laboring in a great common design for the welfare of 

 their race in the future. 



The was]) brought several loads to her tube, scraping it 

 up from the floor of the pitfall and carrying it in little glo- 

 bules to her doorway. Once within, a high-keyed squeaking 

 and buzzing would continue until the clay was thoroughly 

 kneaded into a safety plug at the upper end of the reed. 

 Her tri])s bet\veen nest and pit were continued for nearly 

 an hour, like a hod-carrier laboriously plying between mortar 

 box and masonry. After many trips back and forth she 

 disappeared, returning in a little less than half an hour with 

 a Ihnp, paralyzed spider. 



The victim, a medium-sized creature, was richly colored 

 and patterned in various shades of brown. Its body was 

 quite small, measuring six millimeters in width, but the legs, 

 all of whicli were intact, were long and rather cumbersome 

 to the wasp. With her burden she flew directly to the en- 

 trance of her nest. She alighted with difficulty, then turning 

 a])out and gras])ing the spider by one of its palpi she en- 

 deavored to enter the reed backwai'ds. All went well for a 

 time. The victim's cephalothorax and fore legs caused no 

 trouble, but its abdomen caught at once upon the sharp edge 

 of the reed, which tapered almost to a point. Froni this 

 point the s])ider would not budge — and what is more, was in 

 great danger of being punctured. Had the wasp pulled too 

 hard it certainly would have been impaled on the reed and 

 ruined foi" future use. 



Hci'c I witnessed a most skilful ])erformance. Clinging 

 to the interior ol' the reed with only her two posterior claws. 



