160 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



of fibres, which she gnaws and works about until she reduces 

 them to a kind of pulp, and then flies back to the burrow. 



She now runs up the side of the chamber, and clings to its 

 roof with the two last pairs of legs, while with the first pair, aid- 

 ed bj her jaws, she fixes the woody pulp on the roof, kneading it 

 until it forms a kind of little pillar. Another and another supply 

 is brought, until this pillar, which is pendent from the roof, like a 

 pajner mache stalactite, is completed. The Wasp now begins to 

 form the comb, and at the end of the pillar she places three very 

 shallow cells, of a cup-like shape, not hexagonal, as are the com- 

 pleted cells. In each of these little cups she deposits an egg, and 

 then constructs a roof over them, made from the same material as 

 the cells, but laid in a different manner, the length of the fibres 

 being nearly at right angles to the centre of the proposed comb. 

 More cells are then added, eggs are laid in them, and the roof ex- 

 tended over them. 



The eggs that were laid in the first three cells are now hatched, 

 and have produced very tiny grubs, which are always hungry, 

 and require much attention. They grow rapidly, and, in propor- 

 tion to their growth, the parent Wasp adds to the walls of their 

 cells, so that the young grubs are suspended, with their heads 

 downward, as, indeed, is the custom with very many hymenop- 

 terous larvae. The Wasp proceeds in her task, having all the 

 cares of the nest upon her — the enlargement of the chamber, the 

 building of the nest, the transport of materials, the deposition of 

 the eggs, and the feeding of the ever-hungry grubs. 



In due time, however, the oldest grubs cease to feed, spin a 

 silken cover over their cells, and release their parent from far- 

 ther attendance upon them. In the cells they undergo the change 

 to the perfect state, and, after they have passed a short season in 

 retirement, they tear away the silken cover with their jaws, and 

 come forth as perfect Wasps. As soon as they have gained 

 strength to use their limbs, they take the heavy labors upon them, 

 and the work goes merrily on, the mother Wasp having little to 

 do but to deposit eggs in the cells as fast as they are made. 



Before very long, the first cell-terrace is completely full, and 

 more accommodation is needed. This is supplied in a very curi- 

 ous manner. Taking the junction point of these cells as the 

 foundation, the Wasps construct several pendent pillars, exactly 

 like the one which has already been described, and, by dint of 

 adding cells to each, they all unite, and form a second terrace, 



