196 



NATURE SKETCHES IN TEMPERATE AMERICA 



flew up a little way above the ground, making a loud buzzing 

 sound with her wings. She then turned about to examine the 

 surroundings and eyed me intently. Then alighting on the 

 ground again she went into the burrow. There she remained 

 only long enough to make a hasty inspection of her under- 

 ground nest, and presumably to see that everything was in 

 readiness for the further task she was about to perform. It 

 seemed but a few seconds before she backed out of the 

 burrow. Then turning around, she seized the grasshopper 



The Golden Wasp {Sphex ichneumonea) dragging its prey into 



the burrow. In this instance it is a green meadow 



grasshopper which has been captured. 



by the antennse close to the head, and dragged it into the hole, 

 backing down with her charge (see text illustration). In half 

 a minute she again came out of the burrow, carrying a parcel 

 of earth which she scattered behind her. After repeating this 

 manoeuvre several times she flew away. 



It was nearly an hour before this wasp returned again, 

 bringing another grasshopper, seemingly the counterpart of 

 the first. On leaving the spot for several minutes, I found on 

 my return that she had filled up the burrow to the level of the 

 ground and was busily putting on the finishing touches. The 

 latter procedure seemed to be the most interesting part of her 

 performance. While I was viewing her she seized a bit of old 



