proved too small. She therefore came out and 

 began rapidly enlarging it by seizing bits of gravel 

 with her jaws and fore legs, rising in the air and 

 carrying them off six or eight inches. Again she 

 entered, and this time was able to pull the worm 

 in after her. She remained three or four minutes 

 in the hole, during which time she was depositing 

 her eggs, then her head reappeared at the opening. 



She now began filling in. Dropping two or 

 more bits of gravel, she would then turn her back 

 and rapidly scratch in dirt with her fore legs, evi- 

 dently to fill up the interstices. Twice she took 

 out a bit of gravel and carried it away, precisely 

 as a mason might throw aside a stone that was not 

 the right shape or size. As her head was thus 

 inserted in the hole a black ant approached and 

 peered into the depths. Suddenly the wasp turned 

 and gave one look, whereupon the ant fled in 

 haste. 



When the hole was filled to the brim she 

 tamped it down with her head. This occupied 

 her some minutes and she appeared to take the 

 utmost care. Gravel was then brought and piled 

 upon the spot until it exadtly resembled its sur- 

 roundings. The stones carried varied in size from 



91 



