INSECT nOME-BUILDERS AND THEIR TOOLS. 261 



or a big, stalwart bumblebee called on her, down 

 dropped her stamenlike legs, still more closely clung 

 her yellow body to the yellow center of the flower, 

 and she pretended not to be at home, and not until 

 such objectionable visitors departed did she resume 

 her former attitude. 



Now, however, a pretty lady butterfly, all uncon- 

 scious of harm, rests a moment on the flower. Misu- 

 meta does not stir. She knows her business too 

 well for that, until Miss Butterfly, on the lookout, per- 

 haps, for a sip of dew or a taste of honey, comes 

 within her reach, then out fly the lean arms of the 

 yellow hag in a fatal embrace about the body of the 

 unfortunate insect, which, though four or five times 

 her own weight, she prevents from rising into the air 

 until her poisoned fangs have done their work, and 

 the butterfly will visit no more flowers. 



INSECT HOME-BUILDERS AND THEIR TOOLS. 



To the proper study of Nature one has only to 

 look about in country lanes and fields and forests. 

 The galleries of the Creator are to be found every- 

 where except where those of man exist. And what 

 exquisite workmanship do they not exhibit ! A de- 

 vout old man (Basil, an ante-Nicene father of the 

 Church) who lived in the third century has said : 



" If you speak of the organism of an insect, what 



