NATURAL HISTORY. 



CHAPTER I. 



Nest of Mason Wasp Larvce under Water-lily Leaves 

 Birds misled by unseasonable weather Tameness of 

 Robins Tameness of Wood-pigeon during breeding- 

 season of White-throat of Partridge Tame Gulls 

 Tameness of Gulls in general Their flight variable ac- 

 cording to weather. 



AN unusually favourable opportunity was af- 

 forded me a few years ago of observing the 

 mode adopted by the Mason Wasp (Odynerus 

 parietinus ?) in the construction of its nest, and the 

 disposition of its larvse with the food provided 

 for their sustenance. 



I was sitting in a somewhat dilapidated 

 summer-house, when I noticed one of these in- 

 sects busily engaged in endeavouring to insinuate 

 a white caterpillar, about two-thirds of an inch 

 long, into a hole in the upright skirting. From 

 the smallness of the aperture it was a work of 



