The Leucospes 



When the perforators are gone, I proceed 

 with my examination of the nests, covered 

 with my hieroglyphics, the pencilled notes. 

 One result, one which I fully expected, com- 

 pensates me straightway for all my weary 

 waitings. Under each spot marked in black, 

 under each spot whence I saw the ovipositor 

 withdrawn, I always find a cell, with not a 

 single exception. And yet there are intervals 

 of solid stone between the cells : the partition- 

 walls alone would account for some. More- 

 over, the compartments, which are very ir- 

 regularly disposed by a swarm of toilers who 

 all work in their own sweet way, have great 

 irregular cavities between them, which end 

 by being filled up with the general plastering 

 of the nest. The result of this arrangement 

 is that the massive portions cover almost the 

 same space as the hollow portions. There is 

 nothing outside to show whether the under- 

 lying regions are full or empty. It is quite im- 

 possible for me to decide if, by digging 

 straight down, I shall come to a hollow cell 

 or to a solid wall. 



But the insect makes no mistake: the ex- 

 cavations under my pencil-marks bear witness 

 to that; it always directs its apparatus to- 



295 



