The Mason-bees 



later. The criminal records of life are full 

 of these horrors which we dare not search too 

 deeply. An infinitesimal creature, a barely- 

 visible grub, with the swaddling-clothes of 

 its egg still clinging to it, is led by instinct, 

 as its first inspiration, to exterminate what- 

 ever Is in its way. 



So the Mason's egg is exterminated. Was 

 it really necessary in the Dioxys' interest? 

 Not in the least. The hoard of provisions is 

 too large for its requirements in a cell of the 

 Chalicodoma of the Sheds; how much more 

 so in a cell of the Chalicodoma of the Peb- 

 bles ! She eats not a half, hardly a third of 

 it. The rest remains as it was, untouched. 

 We see here, in the destruction of the 

 Mason's egg, a flagrant waste which aggra- 

 vates the crime. For lack of food, the sur- 

 vivors on the raft of the Medusa indulged 

 in a little cannibalism ; hunger excuses many 

 things; but here there is enough and to spare. 

 When there is too much for her, what earthly 

 motive Impels the Dioxys to destroy a rival 

 in the germ stage? Why cannot she allow 

 the larva, her mess-mate, to take advantage 

 of the remains and afterwards to shift for 

 itself as best it can? But no: the Mason- 

 262 



