Transactions Texas Academy of Science. 
29 
soft and dry, the hole will be wide-mouthed like a funnel, due to 
the caving in of the sides. 
On cross-sectioning the nest its true shape is revealed. The gal- 
lery, nearly vertical near the top, runs down in a gentle curve till it 
becomes nearly horizontal, where it widens out into a spacious 
pocket which received the caterpillar. Fig. 22 represents a nest of 
average size and typical shape. The distance from the mouth to 
the farthest end of the pocket is three inches; this is % inch high 
and 1% inches from the surface of the ground and the tunnel is % 
inch in diameter. The pile of excavated sand at the left is 3 inches 
from the entrance. Fig. 17 represents two smaller nests also dug 
by large individuals. The nests are of a different shape from the 
typical. Both have short tunnels ; the pockets, one inch below the 
surface of the ground, have their long axes at right angles to the 
tunnels. 
After the completion of the nest, the next problem confronting 
Mme. Ammophila is the procuring of a supply of food for her 
future offspring. Caterpillars always constitute the victim of the 
Ammophil'ae, and the number varies with the species of the wasp 
and the size of the caterpillars. The large individuals of procera 
capture and store but one immense green “tomato” caterpillar,, 
the subject of the photographs. The smaller store several small 
caterpillars of about the same length of their own body. 
Before setting out on the chase, some species of Ammophila take 
the precaution of making a temporary closure of the nest, particu- 
larly if the provisioning is to be postponed to the next day, and 
the degree of care with which the closure is effected varies with 
the species and with the individual. A lump of earth may be 
laid over the entrance and this covered with a number of pellets 
so as to make the location indistinguishable. Another individual 
of Ammophila urnaria has been observed by the Peckhams to wedge 
a good sized stone deep into the neck of the burrow and then fill 
the space above, solidly, with smaller stones and earth. A 
third individual of the same specie neglected to close the nest 
at all. Fabre describes Ammophila argentata and Ammophila 
sabulosa as closing the nest immediately after it has been ma r 
but Ammophila holosericea as leaving it open until it is co 
pletely stored. The last mentioned species stores five to six cater- 
pillars, and Fabre thinks she leaves the nest open on account of 
the inconvenience of closing it so often. Dr. Williston, however, 
has observed Ammophila varroivi take the greatest pains to dost 
and conceal the entrance each time a caterpillar is brought in 
