Chapter V 



CRABRO 



THE highest point of the island is crowned by a 

 great group of linden trees ; and one day their 

 perfume, carried by the wind far over field and wood, 

 was calling everything that had wings to gather the rich- 

 est of all the gifts that July can offer. We, too, were 

 drawn to the spot, and found the great blossoming domes 

 thrilling and vibrating with life. For miles around, the 

 bees, wasps, and butterflies had gathered to the feast; 

 and we seemed to touch the high-tide of the year in the 

 scent of the flowers, the humming throng of happy 

 creatures, and the vision of it all against the summer 

 sky. 



Below, in a great root that had pushed above ground, 

 five little wasps, by name sexmaculatus, of the worthy 

 but unimaginative genus Crabro, resisting the intoxica- 

 tion of the linden flowers, were sawing and cutting in 

 the most humdrum and practical manner. One of 

 them, presumably the earliest riser, was well down in 

 the root, and came backing up once in a while, pushing 



97 



