THE MASONS 193 



She has a very long and very slender 

 waist, — a ridiculous waist, that long ago 

 caused Aristophanes to compare fashion- 

 able women to wasps, calling them what 

 has been translated as " wasp-waisted 

 wenches." 



Pelop^us' legs are long and slender, and 

 ornamented with spines. 



As if conscious of the elegance of their 

 personal appearance, the mud-daubers 

 continually jerk their wings with 

 a self-satisfied little flirt that is as J 

 amusing as it is characteristic. ^' 



Why should not a wasp as well condi- 

 tioned as a mud-dauber flirt its wings at the 

 rest of the world ? It should, and it does. 



It flirts its wings, but it does not use its 

 sting unless forced to, and it soon becomes 

 tame and friendly with the right kind of 

 people. 



Pelopaeus cementarius, very abundant 

 in country places, is a pretty, brown crea- 

 ture with yellow legs. 



