172 ROMANCE OF THE INSECT WORLD CHAP. 



are hatched, and the larvae have to be fed ; they 

 increase in size, and their cradles must needs be 

 bigger. The poor mother finds plenty to do, she 

 has to construct cells, to lay eggs, to enlarge the cell- 

 walls, and to seek for food wherewith to satisfy her more 

 advanced offspring. Soon, however, the worst of 

 her troubles are over. The first-born become full- 

 grown, cease to feed, and inclose themselves within 

 their cells, each in its own white silky cocoon with 

 convex cap, and shortly emerge as perfect insects. 

 The work now goes merrily on, for these young wasps 

 are workers, who take upon themselves the arduous 

 share of the labours of the hive. They increase its ex- 

 tent, and become nurses to their younger companions, 

 while the mother does little but lay eggs in cells as 

 fast as they are made. As time goes on brood after 

 brood of recruits is added to the army of workers, new 

 cells rise quickly, and are as quickly supplied by the 

 mother, and before long the first cell-terrace is com- 

 pletely filled. 



Various pendant pillars, similar to the foundation 

 pillar, now appear on the underside of the comb at 

 the angles where these cells meet. To their extremi- 

 ties cells are caused to adhere, and by dint of additions 

 they soon all unite and form a second terrace below 

 the first, the distance between the two tiers being 

 about half an inch, or equal to the height of the inter- 

 vening columns. A third, a fourth, and a fifth tier 

 are constructed, and the roof or walls of the building 

 are constantly brought down lower. The cells com- 

 posing the foundation terraces are amongst the 

 smallest in the completed nest; they are too small to 



