The Common Wasp 



at a furious speed, to drop their infinitesimal 

 load at a distance. Then they immediately 

 face about, return to the workshop and un- 

 dertake a new flight out of all proportion to 

 the result achieved. The insect, one would 

 think, is afraid to encumber the site by 

 merely brushing the tiny fragments away 

 with its feet; it must take to its wings to di- 

 sperse its insignificant sweepings afar. 



The Wasps work in the same manner. 

 There are thousands and thousands of them 

 digging at the cellar and enlarging it as the 

 need occurs. Each carrying her particle of 

 earth in her mandibles, they gain the outer 

 world, fly to a distance and drop their 

 burden, some nearer, some farther away, in 

 all directions. Thus distributed over wide 

 areas, the excavated earth leaves no visible 

 trace. 



The material of the Wasps'-nest is a thin, 

 flexible brown paper, streaked with paler 

 bands, according to the nature of the wood 

 utilized. Made in a single, continuous 

 sheet, according to the methods of the 

 Median Wasp (Vespa media), this sub- 

 stance would constitute an indifferent pro- 

 tection against the cold. But, while the bal- 

 loon-maker understands the art of preserv- 

 ing heat by means of a cushion of air con- 

 247 



