The Mason-Wasps 



which, looping and unlooping, wriggles about 

 like the Cheese-mites. 



All of them are dissecting, dismembering 

 and disembowelling with so much zeal that, 

 when February arrives, they have not yet 

 had time to shrink into pupae. It is so pleas- 

 ant here, sheltered against the inclemencies 

 of the weather, in the snug basement, with 

 provisions in abundance! Why hurry? 

 These smug eaters expect to consume the 

 heap of victuals before hardening their skin 

 into a barrel. They linger so long over 

 their banquet that I forget to secure them 

 for my rearing-phials; and I can say no more 

 about their history. 



In the charnel-houses of Moles and 

 Snakes in my aerial retting-vats, 1 I used to 

 note, from time to time, the arrival of the 

 largest of our Staphylini, 2 S. maxillosus, who, 

 in passing, would make a brief stay under 

 the putrid mass and then proceed to pursue 

 her business elsewhere. The Wasps' char- 

 nel-house similarly has short-winged Beetles 

 among its habitual visitors. I often come 

 upon Que diu s fulgidas, Fab., there, the one 

 with the red wing-cases. But this time it is 

 not a temporary hostelry; it is a family es- 



1 Cf. The Life of the Fly: chap, ix.— Translator's Note. 



2 Rove-beetles. — Translator's Note. 



286 



