Part II — The Solitary Wasps 



THE MASONS 



THE mason, or mud-building, wasps 

 occupy themselves as their names 

 imply. 



They are solitary in their habits, and 

 since they do not dwell together in com- 

 munities, there are no workers among 

 them, only males and females. 



The female is unquestionably the head 

 of the family; she does the whole work 

 of nest-building and provisioning, 

 and has everything her own 

 way. 



The male seldom appears upon 

 the scene ; he is necessary, but on 

 the whole superfluous in the hard 

 work of life, and he dies in the 

 fall, leaving his partner in undisputed pos- 

 session of the hereditary family estates, to 

 locate her house as she pleases, and to 

 furnish it as suits her. 



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