::.7.::::*- NATURE NEAR CAMP m::::::::: 



were merely a dim haze, it was successful in reaching 

 and remaining in the eddy below the boulder, — still 

 water, — across which it easily ferried its burden. 

 Landing on the moist earth which had accumulated 

 there, it disappeared with the spider into a hole which 

 it had doubtless previously excavated. 



The fact of the little wasp using the water as a 

 medium upon which to propel its burden was marvel- 

 lous enough, but the quick succession of complex events, 

 met with so much seeming' intelligence and with sucJi 

 apparent resource of expedient and such dispatch, left 

 us astonished beyond expression. Whether blind 

 instinct, or chain of coincidences, or expression of any 

 higher mental jihase, prompted the actions of the wasp, 

 I will not attempt to say, but, to the observer able to 

 overlook the whole scene of operations and to see at a 

 glance all the attending causes and effects, the apparent 

 philosophy in the actions of the insect is startling. If 

 my companions had not seen the whole affair I should 

 hesitate to record it in print. 



Every day about noon, an old, old man drove several 

 forlorn cows down the trail and up past our camp, for 

 a drink and an hour's feed of fresh green grass. A 

 ragged shirt, a breech-clout, and a pair of dilapidated 

 sandals formed the whole of his outfit. He knew not 

 a word of Spanish, but jabbered cheerfully away to us 

 in some strange Indian tongue, — Aztec, we pleased 

 ourselves by calling it, — as if we understood every 



«4 167 ^ 



