104 THE LIFE OF AN INSECT. 



times did the insect repeat its endeavours, and at 

 last, after one or two narrow escapes, the stone 

 was fairly lodged on the outside of the trap, and 

 the insect returned to its subterraneous recess at 

 the bottom of the cell in triumph. 



The traps vary in size in proportion to the age 

 of the insects which construct them. The young 

 insects only form very small ones ; but as even 

 from the moment of their birth they are destined 

 to toil for their food, they do not wait in idleness 

 and hunger because they cannot make large efforts, 

 but are content to make little traps not more than 

 a few parts of an inch in diameter. Thus they set 

 us the needful example of not despising to do 

 small things because our strength is not yet equal 

 to the performance of as much as we could 

 desire. The diameter of the trap formed by a full- 

 grown insect is about three inches ; the depth 

 about two. 



When its labours are over, it has been well 

 remarked, the insect now only requires patience 

 but it must have a good deal of it ! It generally 

 buries itself, all but its jaws, in the sand at the bot- 

 tom, and here awaits its victims. If it requires much 

 patience, surely it also needs to have much power 



