The Mason-Wasps 



sire for bones and, from time to time, a de- 

 sire for your sweetheart! This, notwith- 

 standing our devoted friendship, creates 

 a certain difference between us, even though 

 people nowadays say that we are more or 

 less related, almost cousins. I feel the need 

 to know things and am content to bake in 

 the heat; you feel no such need and retire 

 into the cool shade." 



Yes, the hours drag when you lie wait- 

 ing for an insect that does not come. In the 

 pinewood hard by, a couple of Hoopoes are 

 chasing each other with the amorous pro- 

 vocations of spring: 



"Oopoopoof" cries the cock, in a muf- 

 fled tone. "Oopoopoo!" 



Latin antiquity called the Hoopoe 

 Upupa; Greek antiquity named it "ETTO^. 

 But Pliny turned the I into ou and must 

 have pronounced the word Oupoupa, as the 

 cry imitated by the name teaches me to do. 

 Rarely have I received a lesson in Latin 

 pronunciation better authenticated than 

 yours, 1 you beautiful bird, who provide 

 a diversion for my long hours of weari- 

 ness. Faithful to your idiom, you say 

 "Oopoopoof" as you said in the days of 



1 The French, it may hardly be necessary to explain, 

 pronounce Latin precisely as though it were French. 

 Translator's Note. 



34 



