LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 189 



and after mashing the wood with her mandi- 

 bles, she tears off a quantity of fine strips 

 which she makes into a bundle with her feet, 

 and carries to her nest. We will follow her 

 there too, and see what she intends to do with 

 this little bundle of wood. She has now soften- 

 ed it with a gummy fluid from her mouth, and 

 kneaded it into a paste. This done, she walks 

 backward and forward over it, and spreads it 

 out into an even sheet, thinner than our letter 

 paper, but equally strong and firm. 



Renei. And this is the wasp's paper, is it ? 



Jlunt M. Yes, and it is a very good paper, 

 too. 



Harriet. But it cannot be white if it is made 

 of old wood. 



Jlunt M. No ; it is generally of a bluish 

 gray color ; but it serves the purposes of the 

 wasp as well as if it were white. 



JRenet. I did not know that paper could be 

 made of any thing except linen and cotton. 



Jlunt M. Some of our coarse paper is made 

 of old rope, and some of straw. Other vegetable 

 substances may also be manufactured into paper, 

 but linen and cotton are preferred. 



17 



