156 FLASHLIGHTS ox NATURE 



more like a cup, or even a saucer, than a cell at 

 this early stage. The Natural History Museum 

 at South Kensington possesses some admirable 

 examples of such nests, in various degrees of 

 growth ; and my fellow-worker, Mr. Knock, has 

 obtained the kind permission of the authorities at 



NO. 2. THE CITY, TWO DAYS OLD. 



the Museum to photograph the cases which con- 

 tain them, for the purposes of these articles. They 

 represent the progress of the queen-wasp's work 

 at two, five, and fifteen days respectively (Nos. 2, 

 3, and 4), and thus admirably illustrate the in- 

 credible rapidity with which, alone and unaided, 

 she builds and populates this one-mother city. 



