THE WASP. 141 



roof, like a paper-macM 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 hexagonaJ, as 

 are the completed 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 extended 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 proportion to their growth, the parent "Wasp adds to the walls 

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

 heads downwards, as, indeed, is the custom with very many 

 hymenopterous 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 

 further 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 labours 

 upon them, and the work goes merrily on, the mother Wasp 

 having little to do but to deposit eggs in the ceUs as fast as they 

 are made. 



Before very long, the fii'st cell-terrace is completely full, and 

 more accommodation is needed. This is supplied in a very 

 curious 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, 

 below the first, the distance between them being just sufficiently 

 large to permit the Wasps to cross each other. In this, as in 

 the former terrace, all the mouths of the ceU are downwards and 

 their bases upwards, so that the bases of the second terrace form 

 a floor on which the Wasps can walk while feeding the young 



