272 ANIMAL LIFE 



hidden ; she then carries it away, backing out of the 

 hole with a pellet in her mouth, flying a short distance 

 and ' flirting ' the load away from her, repeating the 

 journey until the ground is clear for further excavation. 



The burrow is now deepened, and a storage chamber 

 of much larger diameter is formed. When this is 

 finally accomplished and the soil and stones removed, 

 the wasp proceeds to cover up all traces that might 

 lead to the detection of its burrow. She selects a 

 stone or large lump of earth, and tries the effect of it 

 as a stopper. Sometimes, as if satisfied, she proceeds 

 to kick loose soil over the top to disguise all traces 

 of her activity, more frequently the first, and many 

 succeeding stoppers are rejected and more excavation 

 must be done before the critical worker is satisfied, 

 and finally, perhaps, a big lump is firmly wedged in 

 with smaller stones and earth. 



The next process after the construction of the nest 

 is its storage with suitable food. For this purpose 

 each wasp has its special and in variable choice. Though 

 ripe fruit or nectar form their own food, that of the 

 larva must be of animal nature and perfectly fresh. 

 The wasp therefore now devotes herself to a hunt 

 in which her own choice takes no part. It is the tra- 

 dition of some to take flies, of others to select beetles, 

 grasshoppers, spiders, caterpillars, or bugs. More- 

 over the selection when so narrowed is not indiscri- 

 minate, and usually one, or at most a few, of the 

 selected class are captured for this purpose. The 

 work, therefore, is rendered most arduous. Ammo- 



