242 CRUISE OF THE BARRERA 



wasps' nests hang from the under side of projec- 

 tions and to these cling bright brown wasps with 

 amber-tinted wings. These maintain a self- 

 satisfied noli me tangere attitude, as though con- 

 scious of the world's respect, and they ignore our 

 presence. Less formidable creatures would get 

 into a flutter of excitement over the near approach 

 of despoiling man to their nests, but these little 

 demons rely confidently upon their reputation 

 and expect no molestation. Needless to say, if 

 they do get it, it is purely accidental. 



We followed the foot of the paredon along the 

 narrow shelf at top of the talus about a mile where 

 it abruptly stops and the wall is bare down to the 

 valley floor. We were obliged to descend with- 

 out having made a very satisfactory catch of 

 land-shells. 



Proceeding on, a mile farther along the base of 

 the range, we found an excellent field of operation 

 in a mass of huge limestone blocks covering quite 

 an acre in extent and piled up against the mount- 

 ain side fully a hundred feet. What a mighty 

 crash there must have been when this mountain 

 peak toppled to earth from its lofty position. 

 The rock is now smothered in vegetation of be- 



