The Hunting Wasps 



of the woodman's " Hool " Under the re- 

 doubled efforts of tarsi and mandibles, the 

 cave soon takes shape; the insect is already 

 able to dive into it bodily. We then see a 

 lively alternation of forward movements, to 

 loosen new materials, and backward move- 

 ments, to sweep the rubbish outside. In this 

 constant hurrying to and fro, the Sphex does 

 not walk, she darts as though shot from a 

 spring; she bounds with throbbing abdomen 

 and quivering antennae, her whole body, in 

 short, animated with a musical vibration. 

 The miner is now out of sight; but we still 

 hear underground her untiring song, while 

 at intervals we catch a glimpse of her hind- 

 legs, pushing a torrent of sand backwards to 

 the mouth of the burrow. From time to 

 time, the Sphex interrupts her subterranean 

 labours, either to come and dust herself in 

 the sun, to rid herself of the grains of sand 

 which, slipping into her delicate joints, might 

 hamper the liberty of her movements, or else 

 to reconnoitre the neighbourhood. Despite 

 these interruptions, which for that matter do 

 not last long, the gallery is dug in the space 

 of a few hours; and the Sphex comes to her 

 threshold to chant her triumph and give the 

 finishing polish to her work by removing 

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