FABRE'S BOOK OF INSECTS 



times, through the little trenches that are cut in my 

 vegetable plots. 



The Pelopaeus Wasps of the neighbourhood soon be- 

 come aware of this glad event, and come hurrying up to 

 take advantage of the precious layer of mud, a rare dis- 

 covery in the dry season. They scrape and skim the 

 gleaming, shiny surface with their mandibles while 

 standing high on their legs, with their wings quivering 

 and their black bodies upraised. No neat little house- 

 wife, with skirts carefully tucked up out of the dirt, 

 could be more skilful in tackling a job likely to soil her 

 clothes. These mud-gatherers have not an atom of dirt 

 upon them, so careful are they to tuck up their skirts in 

 their own fashion, that is to say, to keep their whole 

 body out of the way, all but the tips of their legs and the 

 busy points of the mandibles with which they work. 



In this way a dab of mud is collected, almost the size 

 of a pea. Taking the load in its teeth the insect flies off, 

 adds a layer to its building, and soon returns to collect 

 another pellet. The same method is pursued as long as 

 the earth remains sufficiently wet, during the hottest 

 hours of the day. 



But the favourite spot is the great fountain in the 

 village, where the people come to water their mules. 

 Here there is a constant sheet of black mud which neither 

 the hottest sunshine nor the strongest wind can dry. 



[76] 



