178 WASPS AND THEIR WAYS 



for a time as though their guardian's whole 

 life must needs be devoted to these raven- 

 ous foundlings. 



For three weeks they were fed several 

 times a day alternately on maple syrup and 

 raw egg, and it began to seem as though 

 they had given up all intention of proceed- 

 ing with their natural lives, and had 

 resigned themselves to an indefinite orgy 

 of maple syrup and egg. Did ever wasp 

 larvae remain larvas so long ? They must 

 have gone at least two weeks over their 

 time before they began to show signs of 

 spinning. 



Then, one day, when their rations were 

 proffered them, fine, sticky threads adhered 

 to the toothpick, and their weary but 

 patient nurse joyfully realised that at last 

 they were going to " take a rest," and give 

 her one too. 



Nor were her hopes vain. One spun a 

 thin, delicate, almost transparent cocoon, 

 and unkindly did it in the night, when 



