THE MINERS 303 



easily cutting into a sand-bank that was 

 almost as hard as stone. Having detached 

 a few grains of sand, the wasp kneads it 

 into a pellet with liquid from its mouth, 

 and this pellet is attached at the mouth of 

 the excavation. The wasp forms another 

 pellet, adds it to the first, and continues in 

 this way until it has constructed a little 

 chimney or tower over its hole. The 

 tower is not a good piece of masonry, 

 however, as the pellets are not carefully 

 joined, but openings are often left between 

 them. Although the tower at first is 

 built perpendicular to the wall upon which 

 it rests, at the outer end it is curved to 

 correspond to the curve of the insect's 

 body. This makes the tower easy of 

 entrance to the rightful occupant, but 

 would exclude a larger enemy. When the 

 little nest is finished, provisioned, occu- 

 pied, and sealed, the tower, which it seems 

 was only a temporary structure is taken 

 down as expeditiously as it was put up. 



