NATURE'S FIRST PAPER MAKERS. 433 



"The nests ai"e circular or oval in shape and of vari- 

 ous sizes. This specimen is seven inches in diameter, 

 and I have seen one at least one-half larger. The size 

 is determined by the number of young, for each of these 

 cells contains a single larva." 



"Tell us, please, how the nest begins," said Abby. 

 " Do the wasps live through the winter ?" 



" No ; the workers all die with the frost ; but a few 

 of the females survive the winter. They hide in cran- 

 nies : for example, under the eaves of your sclioolhouse 

 roof, or other sheltered places, and live through the 

 cold months in a torpid state. The warmth of spring 

 summons them from their retreats, and they at once 

 begin the foundation of a family. Having chosen a 

 site they proceed to build a few cells in which they 

 place eggs that in time become larvte. These are fed 

 by the mother until ready to pass into the pupa stage, 

 when the cells are sealed up, and so remain until the 

 perfect insects emerge. The first born are workers, 

 and at once take upon them the labors of the colony, 

 leaving the queen to her proper duty of furnishing 

 eggs. The nest grows by the addi^^ion of cells along the 

 outer margin, into each of which as finished an egg is 

 placed. The old cells also appear to be used, being 

 cleaned out and again furnished with eggs as soon as 

 the younglings are fairly out of the way. Thus the 

 last baby waspling falls heir to the cradle of its prede- 

 cessox*, as is often the case with our own infants." 



" What are these snow-white caps that cover so many 

 of the cells?" asked the Mistress. "I notice that 



