200 WASPS AND THEIR WAYS 



men's houses had not yet covered the 

 earth for the benefit of the little masons. 



After applying the load of mud in the 

 little shed, Pelopaeus flew out to the roof of 

 another shed, settled on it in the sun, 

 cleaned her face and hands, then settled 

 herself, apparently for a nap. 



It was a very short nap, however, for 

 suddenly starting up, she flew quickly to a 

 near mud-hole, worked as if her life de- 

 pended on it, flew home, and in the same 

 eager, restless way applied her load of mud 

 to the nest. Then she rested on the sunny 

 roof again. She averaged about two loads 

 a minute including her nap. 



In order to see her build, it was neces- 

 sary to stand on a box close to the nest, 

 and with the head of the observer quite 

 close to the roof. When Pelopaeus came 

 in at the window and saw this strange, 

 immense, living object so near her nest, 

 she did not understand it. She flew 

 straight at the face of the intruder, who, 



