THE MASONS 207 



and almost transparent. Within this shell 

 the marvellous transformation takes place 

 that changes a white, legless grub into a 

 perfect wasp, with its complex legs, eyes, 

 antennae, and sting. 



When the transformation is complete, 

 the wasp bites a hole through the end of 

 its cell, moistening the hard mud with a 

 liquid from its mouth, the delicate pupa 

 skin that covers it is broken off, and it 

 comes forth into the world to see what is 

 next to be learned of life. 



There are about an equal number of 

 male and female mud-daubers hatched in 

 a season, and like other wasps, the male 

 mud-daubers have no stings. 



Soon after coming from the cell the 

 wasps mate, and the female begins to 

 make mud cells. 



If the eggs are laid early in the summer, 

 the wasps hatch out and go to work at 

 once to build nests and lay their eggs. If, 

 however, the egg is laid in the fall, the 



