874 Marvels of the Universe 
Suddenly the sun 
blazed forth from behind 
a cloud, when instantly 
the little Wasp struck up 
a shrill, piping note and 
darted into the air. She 
performed a _ peculiar 
jerky flight fora moment 
or two, and then re- 
f turned to the thistle leaf 
Nagain, still singing her 
high-pitched note for all 
she was worth. She did 
not rest, but travelled 
rapidly along the leaf 
down the stem to the 
ground, where she ap- 
peared to become very 
excited, although at first 
it was not obvious what 
the excitement was all 
Photo by] [B. J. Wallis. about. 
eos ak She moved in and out 
A South African Mesembryanthemum that grows where vegetation is scarce and 
succulent plants unprotected by spines are in danger of being exterminated. This species amongst the leaves near 
l s | ice. g ° 
exactly resembles a pebble to escape notice It has been photographed among real pebbles the ground with her 
to show how closely it mimics them. 
feelers curved at the tip 
and quivering and bristling with activity. Into any little holes in the soil that appeared this lively 
insect promptly popped her head, withdrawing it almost as quickly ; indeed, the whole of her 
movements seemed to indicate that she was in a most terrible hurry. 
In the course of five or six minutes the search had covered several yards of ground, every leaf- 
fold and crevice being closely examined. Then she met with a stone embedded against the root of 
a tree, and between the root and the stone she disappeared. While wondering what she was doing 
beneath the stone, some object appeared at the mouth of the hole by which the Wasp had 
entered—it was the black and red body of the Wasp herself slowly backing as she pulled out the 
rightful owner of this retreat, a Wolf Spider. 
The Wolf Spider had itself on this occasion been surprised ; for the plucky little Wasp had 
boldly entered its retreat and there attacked it. The spider, finding an enemy within its home, 
would probably act as if it were dead, and then the Wasp, who is thoroughly acquainted with this 
manceuvre, would carefully examine it, and being satisfied that it was not so dead as it appeared 
to be, would seize it and sting it in its nerve-cord, and so paralyze it. 
When it was clear of the hole she appeared to become very nervous, continually looking 
behind her as she hurriedly walked backwards dragging the spider, which was as large as herself. 
It was obvious that she suspected an enemy was near, for her attention seemed divided between 
her treasure and her surroundings. After she had travelled with her spider about nine feet, piping 
excitedly the whole of the time, she suddenly left it and flew into the air, as if taking a bird’s-eye 
view to see if she was clear of all danger. Apparently she was satisfied, for she suddenly swooped 
down upon her victim and hastily dragged it to one side amongst some grass blades, and then, 
seizing the base of one, slowly climbed up it, also dragging up her spider. At last she reached 
a node from which a blade forked, and in the angle she carefully placed her treasure, touching 
