72 



ELEMENTAKY STUDIES IN INSECT LIFE 



thus making this spot as hard and firm as the surround- 

 ing surface. (Fig. 58.) Before we could recover from 

 our astonishment at this performance, she had dropped 

 her stone and was bringing more earth. We then threw 

 ourselves down on the ground that not a motion might 

 be lost, and in a moment we saw her pick up the pebble 

 and again pound the earth into place with it, hammer- 

 ing now here and now there until all was level. Once 

 more the whole process was repeated, and then the little 

 creature, all unconscious of the commotion that she 

 had aroused in our minds, unconscious indeed, of 

 our very existence, and intent only on doing her work 

 and doing it well, gave one final, comprehensive 

 glance around, and flew away." 





