154 
Psyche 
[September 
legs, was carried up and out of the tunnel as earlier de- 
scribed but, at this nest, only to a distance of 1 % inches. 
She carried it out, at a time when the nest was nearly com- 
pletely dug, at an average rate of five loads each minute. 
An intruder, an ant in reality as well as in appearance, 
came upon the scene soon after observations began on the 
wasp. The wasp quickly retreated to a distance while the 
ant entered her nest, moved in and out, in impish fashion. 
But the wasp did not desert her nest very long. Soon back, 
she continued the work as before, only perhaps more hur- 
riedly. It seemed that the ant had irritated her, and this 
later caused her to proceed in a more nervous manner. Her 
nest, when first found, must have been very nearly com- 
plete, for she soon provisioned it. 
Her prey was a small greenish larva, which she had left 
suspended on a plant 18 inches away, hanging over a stem 
while she was working on the tunnel and cell. She now 
brought it to the nest, released it with its head to the en- 
trance, backed within and pulled it in after her. This took 
place in good orthodox fashion, as did also the laying of 
eggs or the depositing of larvse by a small tachinid fly just 
as the prey was disappearing from sight. 
She remained in the cell but a few seconds, and upon 
emerging sought a large pebble to place in the tunnel below 
the orifice. The first one tried was too small, so she quickly 
removed it and continued searching for another. She con- 
ducted this activity on foot, searching on the ground among 
the plants near the nest. She soon tried another stone, 
which again was rejected for like reason as the first. 
There followed at this point an interesting fight with a 
dark ant which was again intruding. The ant literally 
jumped at the wasp, the latter this time holding her ground 
and darting back at her foe. The contest continued for a 
few seconds with little advantage to either. Then each quit 
voluntarily, or possibly, the wasp was the victor. At any 
rate, she resumed her work and the ant, as it was scurry- 
ing away, was taken for identification. 
A suitable pebble was secured, which fitted the upper part 
of the tunnel, fine soil was kicked in from the surface and 
