220 The Himting Wasps 



different honey-gathering Bees have succeeded 

 one another year after year and riddled the 

 wall with a labyrinth of tunnels until it looks 

 like an enormous sponge, we are almost sure, 

 in midwinter, to find the Hairy Ammophila 

 snugly ensconced in the shelters provided by 

 the sunny bank, alone or in groups of three or 

 four, idly awaiting the arrival of the fine weather. 

 I have been able to give myself as often as I 

 wished this little treat of renewing my acquaint- 

 ance, amid tlie gloom and cold of vv^inter, with 

 the pretty Wasp who enlivens the greensward 

 beside the paths at the first notes of the Bunting 

 and the Cricket. When there is no wind and 

 the sun is shining brightly, the warmth-loving 

 insect comes to its threshold to bask luxuriously 

 in the hottest rays, or it will even timidly 

 venture outside and, step by step, stroll over 

 the surface of the spongy bank, pohshing its 

 wings as it goes. Even so does the httle Grey 

 Lizard behave, when the sun once more begins 

 to warm the old wall that represents his native 

 land. 



But vain would be our search in winter, 

 even in the most sheltered refuges, for a 

 Cerceris, Sphex, Philanthus, Bembex or other 

 Wasp with carnivorous grubs. All died after 

 their autumnal labours and their race is not 

 represented, in the cold season, save by the 



