First Attempts at Observation 



As I anticipated, the digging assumes an 

 eccentric direction, producing in the sandy 

 wall a few gaps in which the glass is laid 

 bare. These peep-holes are none too satis- 

 factory as regards my plans; while some of 

 them permit of clear observation, the greater 

 number are obscured by an earthy veil. Be- 

 sides, they are not permanent. New ones 

 open daily, while others close. These con- 

 tinual variations are due to the rubbish 

 which, laboriously hoisted outside, rubs 

 against the wall, plastering or denuding this 

 point or that. I take advantage of these 

 fortuitous openings to examine as best I may, 

 when the light falls at a favourable angle, 

 the interesting things happening inside the 

 tube. 



I see over and over again, at my leisure, 

 as often as I please and over a protracted 

 period, what the exhausting inspection of the 

 natural burrows showed me in rare and 

 fleeting glimpses. The mother is always 

 ahead, in the post of honour, at the working- 

 face. Alone she toils and moils, with her 

 clypeus; alone she scrapes and digs, with the 

 harrow of her toothed arms: her mate never 

 relieves her. The father is always in the 

 rear, very busy too, but on another job. His 

 105 



