196 INTELLIGENCE IN INSECTS 



to its nest. After chewing the caterpillar for some time 

 the wasp bit it in two and rolled up one of the parts in order to 

 carry it away. As if it had in mind returning for the other 

 piece the wasp circled about, forming larger and larger 

 circles, then departed for a distance, but returned as if to 

 get another look at the situation and flew away. In less 

 than two minutes the wasp again appeared on the scene, 

 having probably disposed of its burden in its nest. It had 

 difficulty in finding the remainder of the caterpillar and re- 

 turned repeatedly to the same seed pods near which the prey 

 was located. Whenever in flying about it came near the 

 pods it would alight and continue the search on foot. Its 

 persevering efforts were rewarded by the discovery of the 

 remainder of the caterpillar; then it seized its prey eagerly, 

 and "as if there was nothing more to come back for, flew 

 straight to its nest without taking any further note of the 

 locality." 



Similar behavior is shown in the trial flight of bees. When 

 young bees, or bees which have been carried into a new place, 

 make their first excursions from the hive they circle about as 

 they rise through the air before venturing very far away. Only 

 after having flown back and forth from the hive several 

 times do they finally come to dispense with their preliminary 

 movements of exploration. If young bees are removed 

 from the hive, even for only a short distance, before they 

 have made their trial flight, they fail to find their way back. 

 On the other hand, old bees may be removed for a long 

 distance and almost all succeed in returning. The distance 

 from which bees are able to find their way home depends upon 

 the character of their surroundings, and particularly upon 

 the distances they have been in the habit of going for 

 honey. Romanes took bees from a hive which was situated 

 near the sea, carried them in a boat a short distance from 



