The Ammophilae 



domen stretched at the end of its long pedicle, 

 and turns round slowly, pivoting its whole 

 body stiffly, with the geometrical rigidity of 

 a line revolving on itself. If it wishes to 

 fling to a distance the rubbish which it thinks 

 will be in the way, it does so in short silent 

 flights, often backwards, as though the Wasp, 

 emerging from her well head last, avoided 

 turning, so as to save time. It is the species 

 carrying their abdomens on the longest stalks, 

 such as the Sandy Ammophila and the Silky 

 Ammophila, which mainly display this auto- 

 maton-like rigidity in action. That belly 

 swelling into a pear at the end of a thread 

 is in fact a very delicate thing to steer : a sud- 

 den movement might warp the fine stalk. So 

 we must walk with a sort of geometrical 

 rigour; if we have to fly, we will do so back- 

 wards, to avoid tacking too often. On the 

 other hand, the Hairy Ammophila, who has 

 a short abdominal pedicle, works at her bur- 

 row with the heedless, nimble movements 

 which we admire in most of the Digger- 

 wasps. She has more freedom of action, be- 

 cause her belly does not get in her way. 



The home is dug. At a later hour in the 

 day, or even merely when the sun has left 

 the place where the burrow has just been 

 253 



