The Mason-Wasps 



her masterpiece under whitewash. I crave 

 forgiveness for a suggestion which I ad- 

 vance with all the reserve befitting so deli- 

 cate a subject. Would it not be possible 

 for the cromlech-builder to take a pride in 

 her handiwork, to look upon it with some 

 affection and to feel gratified by this 

 evidence of her cleverness? Might there 

 not be an insect science of aesthetics? I 

 seem at least to catch a glimpse, in the 

 Eumenes, of a propensity to beautify her 

 product. The nest must be first and fore- 

 most a solid habitation, an inviolable strong- 

 hold; but, should ornament intervene with- 

 out jeopardizing the power of resistance, 

 will the worker remain indifferent to it? 

 Who could say? 



Let us set forth the facts. The orifice at 

 the top, if left as a mere hole, would suit 

 the purpose quite as well as an elaborate 

 door: the insect would lose nothing in re- 

 gard to facilities for coming and going and 

 would gain by shortening the labour. Yet 

 we find, on the contrary, the mouth of an 

 amphora, gracefully curved, worthy of a 

 potter's wheel. Choice cement and careful 

 work are needed for the confection of its 

 slender, funnelled shaft. Why this nice fin- 



10 



