NATURAL HISTORY. 
CHAPTER I. 
Nest of Mason Wasp—Larve under Water-lily Leaves— 
Birds misled by unseasonable weather—Tameness of 
Robins—Tameness of Wood-pigeon during breeding- 
season—of White-throat—of Partridge—Tame Gulls— 
Tameness of. Gulls in general—Thetr flight variable ac- 
cording to weather. 
N unusually favourable opportunity was af- 
forded me a few years ago of observing the 
mode adopted by the Mason Wasp (Odynerus 
parietinus ?) in the construction of its nest, and the 
disposition of its larvee with the food provided 
for their sustenance. 
I was sitting in a somewhat dilapidated 
summer-house, when I noticed one of these in- 
sects busily engaged in endeavouring to insinuate 
a white caterpillar, ‘about two-thirds of an inch 
long, into a hole in the upright skirting. From 
the smallness of the aperture it was a work of 
L 
