290 NATURE S CRAFTSMEN 
Uncle John explained, “ and wherever she stops 
and begins to dig there is always a worm. She 
doesn’t always get him though; the ground 
may be too hard, or the worm too deep for her 
efforts. But it is always there, and with a little 
expert help may be brought to light. I have 
proved this time and again. How does the wasp 
know of the worm’s presence? Probably the 
earth above its quarters gives back a hollow sound 
to her taps. At any rate, she is never deceived. 
. . . Now, watch!” 
Fast and furious the wasp began to dig, and 
the soil was so loose that her efforts were soon 
rewarded. There was a sudden quick nab of her 
curved pincers, and out came the worm, rolling, 
twisting and resisting with every trick known to 
the caterpillar clan. Excitement was tense 
among the watchers, but Mrs. Hairy seemed 
calm enough. She just held on grimly to her 
find, and gave every appearance of giving the 
fat, cumbersome fellow time to tire himself out. 
Perhaps she only waited for him to expose a vul¬ 
nerable part, for presently as the worm uncurled, 
she made a swift lunge, darting her lance into the 
joint between the first ring and the head. The 
worm wilted instantly, and then the witnesses 
saw a curious thing. The wasp, which had 
seemed entirely mistress of the affair, fell in a 
series of convulsions. 
