254 T^^^^ Htmting Wasps 



fluid in a continuous stream, describes its para- 

 bola and falls to the ground some seven or eight 

 inches away. This spray of dust, kept up 

 evenly for five or ten minutes at a time, is 

 enough to show the dazzling rapidity of the 

 tools employed. I know no other example of 

 this swiftness, which nevertheless in no way 

 detracts from the easy grace and the free move- ' 

 ment of the insect, as it advances and retires 

 first on this side, then on that, without discon- 

 tinuing its parabolic streams of sand. 



The soil excavated is of the lightest kind. 

 As the Wasp digs, the sand near by slips back 

 and fills the cavity. Amongst the rubbish that 

 falls are tiny bits of wood, decayed leaf-stalks 

 and particles of grit larger than the rest. The 

 Bembex takes them up in her mandibles and 

 carries them away, moving backwards as she I 

 goes ; then she returns to her sweeping, but 

 never going to any length and making no 

 attempt to bury herself underground. What is 

 her object in thus labouring entirely on the sur- 

 face ? It would be impossible to tell from this 

 first glance ; but, after spending many days 

 with my beloved Wasps and grouping together 

 the scattered facts resulting from my observa- 

 tions, I seem to catch a glimpse of the reason 

 for the present proceedings. 



The Wasp's nest is certainly there, a few 



