438 TENANTS OF AN OLD FARM. 



planation be suggested, the facts are sufficiently inter- 

 esting. If you look again at this open nest you will see 

 that the combs increase in size from the top to the 

 center and then gradually decrease until this last of the 

 series, Avhich is a very small affair. The insect, of 

 course, began its nest at the top, and built dowuAvard, 

 having just commenced this lower comb when the work 

 of the colony was forever stopped by Jack Frost. This 

 process, you observe, is the reverse of our human 

 modes of building, and probably will never be adopted 

 by us, notwitstanding the ingenious proposal of the 

 Laputan philosopher mentioned in 'Gulliver's Trav- 

 els ' to imitate this peculiar feature in the h.ornet's 

 architecture by building the garrets of every house first, 

 and then gradually working downward to the lower 

 stories and cellars !" 



The laugh which this (piaint conceit awakened was 

 interrupted by a remark from the Manufacturer : 



" I believe we do sometimes follow the hornet's order, 

 in sub-aqueous architecture, for example, as when we 

 build a bridge pier in mid-stream by caissons. Another 

 example is found in the famous subterranean struc- 

 tures of Rome, known as the Catacombs, which served 

 the primitive Christians not only as cemeteries but as 

 homes and temples as Avell. But — excuse me ! — I do 

 not wish to play the part of Gulliver's philosopher." 



" ITave I not heard some such theory applied to the 

 building of the Pyramids ?" asked Abb}'. " I do not 

 recall the details, but the author starts out with a quo 

 tation from Herodotus who cites a rumor or tradition 



