FABRE'S BOOK OF INSECTS 



of all, the Wasp has taken possession of the house itself. 

 On my doorway lives the White-banded Sphex: when 

 I go indoors I must be careful not to tread upon her as 

 she carries on her work of mining. Just within a closed 

 window a kind of Mason-wasp has made her earth-built 

 nest upon the freestone wall. To enter her home she 

 uses a little hole left by accident in the shutters. On 

 the mouldings of the Venetian blinds a few stray Mason- 

 bees build their cells. The Common Wasp and the 

 Solitary Wasp visit me at dinner. The object of their 

 visit, apparently, is to see if my grapes are ripe. 



Such are my companions. My dear beasts, my friends 

 of former days and other more recent acquaintances, are 

 all here, hunting, and building, and feeding their 

 families. And if I wish for change the mountain is 

 close to me, with its tangle of arbutus, and rock-roses, 

 and heather, where Wasps and Bees delight to gather. 

 And that is why I deserted the town for the village, and 

 came to Serignan to weed my turnips and water my 

 lettuces. 



[10] 



