The Mason-Wasps 



which, looping and unlooping, wriggles about 

 like the Cheese-mites. 



All of them are dissecting, dismembering 

 and disembowelling with so much zeal that, 

 when February arrives, they have not yet 

 had time to shrink into pupae. It is so pleas- 

 ant here, sheltered against the inclemencies 

 of the weather, in the snug basement, with 

 provisions in abundance I Why hurry? 

 These smug eaters expect to consume the 

 heap of victuals before hardening their skin 

 into a barrel. They linger so long over 

 their banquet that I forget to secure them 

 for my rearing-phials; and I can say no more 

 about their history. 



In the charnel-houses of Moles and 

 Snakes in my aerial retting-vats,^ I used to 

 note, from time to time, the arrival of the 

 largest of our Staphylini,^ S. maxillosus, who, 

 in passing, would make a brief stay under 

 the putrid mass and then proceed to pursue 

 her business elsewhere. The Wasps' char- 

 nel-house similarly has short-winged Beetles 

 among its habitual visitors. I often come 

 upon Que dins fulgidas, Fab., there, the one 

 with the red wing-cases. But this time it is 

 not a temporary hostelry; it is a family es- 



1 Cf. The Life of the Fly: chap, ix.— Translator's Note. 



2 Rove-beetles. — Translator's Note. 



286 



