The Hunting Wasps 



spots where the earth is slightly cracked. 

 The insect wears itself out in clearing-opera- 

 tions; with a mighty effort, it removes lumps 

 of dry earth the size of an apricot-stone. 

 Those spots are soon abandoned, however. 

 Then a suspicion comes to me : the fact that 

 there are four or five of us vainly hunting for 

 a Grey Worm does not prove that the Am- 

 mophila is troubled with the same want of 

 skill. Where man is helpless, the insect 

 often triumphs. The exquisite delicacy of 

 perception that guides it cannot leave it at a 

 loss for hours together. Perhaps the Grey 

 Worm, foreseeing the gathering storm, has 

 dug its way lower down. The huntress very 

 well knows where it lies, but cannot extract 

 it from its deep hiding-place. When she 

 abandons a spot after a few attempts, it is 

 not for want of sagacity, but for want of the 

 requisite power of digging. Wherever the 

 Ammophila scratches, there must a Grey 

 Worm be: the place is abandoned because 

 the work of extraction is admittedly beyond 

 her strength. It was very stupid of me not 

 to have thought of it earlier. Would such 

 an experienced poacher pay any attention to 

 a place where there is really nothing? 

 What nonsense ! 



364 



