The Hunting Wasps 



her from her home. She alights heavily on 

 the level ground where I am watching, in the 

 very middle of a Sphex village. The rest 

 of the journey is performed on foot. The 

 Wasp, not at all intimidated by my presence, 

 bestrides her victim and advances, bearing 

 her head proudly aloft and hauling the 

 Cricket, who trails between her legs, by an 

 antenna held in her mandibles. If the 

 ground be bare, it is easy to drag the victim 

 along; but, should some grass-tuft spread the 

 network of its shoots across the road, it is 

 curious to observe the amazement of the 

 Sphex when one of these little ropes suddenly 

 thwarts her efforts; it is curious to witness 

 her marches and countermarches, her re- 

 iterated attempts, until the obstacle is over- 

 come, either with the aid of the wings or by 

 means of a clever deviation. The Cricket 

 is at last conveyed to his destination and is 

 so placed that his antennae exactly touch the 

 mouth of the burrow. The Sphex then 

 abandons her prey and descends hurriedly to 

 the bottom of the cave. A few seconds 

 later, we see her reappear, showing her head 

 out of doors and giving a little cry of delight. 

 The Cricket's antennae are within her reach; 

 70 



