114 THE NATURALIST IN BERMUDA. 
tinged of a like colour. Another species, P. flavipes, is 
rather common, having its body prettily marked with bands 
of black and yellow. For our own satisfaction, and to clear 
up a doubt, we allowed one of these insects to sting us, and 
found the pain somewhat similar to that produced by the 
venom of our English wasp. The flowers of the fennel 
plant seem to attract this, as well as the former species. 
Mr. Hurdis states that it is known on the islands as the 
“mason wasp,” and that “it builds its clay cell upon 
ceilings of verandahs, eaves of houses, and about windows.” 
He remarks, “it is a fine insect (somewhat larger than the 
Bermuda wasp), and may be observed throughout the 
summer, carrying, within its legs, a round ball of moist, 
sandy clay ; with these balls it moulds its cell with much 
industry, making a peculiar buzzing noise while so engaged. 
When completed, the structure resembles an oval lump of 
mortar. Two or three cells are sometimes united. On ex- 
amination, the interior of each will be found in the form 
of an oblong apartment, neatly rounded, and of sufficient 
size to hold the parent insect; into this the mason wasp 
introduces as many spiders,—alive, though apparently half 
dead —as the aperture will hold; and having deposited 
its egg among them, closes up the entrance with clay in a 
very neat manner, leaving the future care of its progeny to 
Nature. The larva, after consuming the unhappy spiders, 
assumes the chrysalis state, and comes forth a_ perfect 
insect.” 
The “honey bee” of the Bermudas is very common ; 
and, apparently holding to the old maxim, “improves each 
shining hour,” as do its congeners in more temperate climes. 
It is smaller than the common honey bee of England ; and, 
