THE COCKROACH AND ITS ENEMY. 295 
much pulling on the part of the wasp, was forced into 
the interior. After being out of sight a few minutes, the 
wasp returned, took storil nails frau a paper which lay 
on the floor near by, and carried them, one by one, into 
the key-hole. I could not but admire the perseverance 
manifested in this effort. The wasp was obliged to walk 
backwards up the door to the key-hole; the nail could 
not be turned by the wasp into a proper position to enter 
endwise, and, consequently, fell to the floor several times 
before being successfully drawn in, and each time the 
wasp descended immediately to renew the attempt. The 
lock was taken off carefully, and six four-penny nails 
found covering the body of the roach. 
Not the least singular feature in the case is, that the 
sting of the wasp does not kill the cockroach, but only 
stupeties him, so that the roach, when he walks to his - 
final resting-place, may certainly be said to go to his own 
Suneral as chief mourner ! 
The bodies of this species of cockroach are often found 
with the empty cocoon of the wasp occupying the cavity 
of the abdomen; the young wasp, having been hatched 
there, and, after completing its larval stage, spinning this 
cocoon, still ‘remains there to complete its development, 
when it comes forth a perfect insect, in all respects like 
its parent. 
To show with what tenacity the wasp sticks to her prey 
when once within her grasp, we once put a cockroach, — 
Which had been paralyzed, with the wasp, in a glazed- 
earthen pitcher, and watched the result. The wasp at- 
tempted to lead the roach out of the pitcher, to which 
move the cockroach made no objections, and walked up 
the inclined side of the pitcher as far as his feet would . 
permit him, but not being furnished with the little pads 
