Wonders of Insect Architecture. 



the leaves of some plant. The plan is a simple one. 

 A tunnel of about an inch in length leads to the pocket 

 in 'which the caterpillars are stored. There is no hard- 

 ening of the walls in any part. The work is done with 

 the mandibles and the first legs. When it has pro- 

 ceeded so far that the wasp is partly hidden, she begins 

 to carry the earth away from the nest. In doing this 

 she backs up to the edge of the opening, and, flying 

 a little way, gives a sort of flick which throws the pellet 

 that she carries in her mandibles to a distance. She 

 then alights where she is and pauses a moment before 

 she runs back to the hole, or, in some cases, darts back 

 on the wing. Ammophila having made her excava- 

 tion, ran off, and after some search returned with a 

 good-sized lump of earth. This she laid over the 

 opening, which was not completely hidden. She then 

 flew to the bean patch close by, but after ten minutes 

 she came back and looked at her nest. It was so neatly 

 covered as to be almost indistinguishable, but to this 

 fastidious little creature something seemed lacking. 

 She pulled away the cover, carried out three or four 

 loads, and then began to search for another" piece for 

 closing. After a time she came hurrying back with a 

 lump of earth, but when close to the nest she con- 

 cluded that it would not do, dropped it, and ran off 

 in another direction. Presently she found one that 

 fitted into the hole exactly, and after placing it she 

 brought a much smaller piece which she put above 

 and to one side. She then stood back and surveyed 

 the whole, and it seemed to us that we could read pride 

 and satisfaction in her mien. She then flew away, 

 and we supposed that that stage of the work was com- 



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