334 T^^^ Hunting IVasps 



he has known all about it for some time. I 

 have talked to him of my little creatures and 

 the caterpillars which they hunt ; he has a 

 general knowledge of the habits of the insect 

 which I am studying. He understands at once 

 and goes in search. He digs at the foot of the 

 lettuces, he scrapes among the strawberry-beds, 

 he inspects the iris-borders. I know his sharp 

 eyes and his intelligence ; I have every con- 

 fidence in him. Meanwhile, time passes. 



' Well, Favier ? Where 's that Grey Worm ? ' 



' I can't find one, sir.' 



* Bother ! Then come to the rescue, you 

 others ! Claire, Aglae, all of you ! Hurry up, 

 hunt and find ! ' 



The whole family is brought into requisition. 

 All its members display an activity worthy of 

 the serious events at hand. I myself, chained 

 to my post lest I should lose sight of the Ammo- 

 phila, keep one eye upon the huntress and with 

 the other watch for Grey Worms. Nothing 

 turns up : three hours pass and not one of us 

 has found the caterpillar. 



The Ammophila does not find it either. I 

 see her hunting with some persistency in spots 

 where the earth is slightly cracked. The insect 

 wears itself out in clearing operations ; with a 

 mighty effort it removes lumps of dry earth the 

 size of an apricot-stone. Those spots are soon 



