282 The Hunting IVasps 



less on chance, since the most practised eye 

 cannot distinguish one spot from the other 

 on that expanse of sand ; it has ahghted some- 

 where near its home, of which it will now seek 

 the entrance, concealed after its last exit not 

 only by the natural falling-in of the materials 

 but also by the Wasp's own careful sweeping. 

 But no : the Bembex does not hesitate at all, 

 does not grope about, does not seek. By 

 common consent the antennae are looked upon 

 as organs for guiding insects in their searches. 

 At this moment of the return to the nest, I 

 see nothing particular in the play of the 

 antennae. Without once letting go her prey, 

 the Bembex scratches a little in front of her, 

 at the very spot where she has alighted, gives 

 a push with her head and straightway enters, 

 with the Fly under her abdomen. The sand 

 falls in, the door closes and the Wasp is at home. 

 It makes no difference that I have seen the 

 Bembex return to her nest hundreds of times ; 

 it is always with fresh astonishment that I 

 behold the keen-sighted insect find without 

 hesitation a door whose presence there is nothing 

 to indicate. This door, in fact, is hidden with 

 jealous care, not now, after the Bembex has 

 gone in — for the obliterating sand does not 

 become quite level of its own weight, but leaves 

 perhaps a slight depression, or an incompletely 



