The Mason-Wasps 



the same accuracy and the same uncon- 

 sciousness as those displayed by the mollusc, 

 which coils its shell in a scientific spiral; if 

 nothing hinders its aims, it always achieves 

 a graceful and wisely economical structure. 

 But, when a number of cells mutually 

 hamper one another, the regulation plan, 

 without being abandoned, undergoes altera- 

 tions imposed by lack of space. Massing 

 leads to irregularity. Here, as with us, 

 liberty makes for order and constraint for 

 disorder. 



We will now open the nest of the balloon- 

 building Wasp. Here is something that 

 we did not expect. Instead of one en- 

 velope there are two, one enclosed within 

 the other, with a slight interval between. 

 There would have been even more, three 

 or four of them, had not impatient hands, 

 eager to bring me the masterpiece, culled 

 it before it reached perfection. The nest 

 is incomplete, as is proved by the single 

 story of cells. A perfect Wasps'-nest would 

 contain several stories. 



No matter: such as it is, this work shows 

 us that the chilly Wasp was acquainted with 

 the art of preserving heat before we were. 

 Physics teaches us the efficacy of a cushion 

 of air, motionless between two walls, as a 

 230 



