184 nature's teachings. 



nest of a honey-making Brazilian wasp named Myrapetra 

 scutellaris. The peculiarity of this nest consists in its exterior 

 being covered with a vast number of projections made of the 

 same material as the walls of the nest, but more solid and much 

 harder. The colour of the nest is blackish brown. 



The object of all these projections has not been ascertained, 

 but there is no difficulty as regards some of them. Without a 

 very careful examination, it is exceedingly difficult to see any 

 opening by which the inhabitants of the nest can go in and 

 out. It will be found, however, that there are many entrances, 

 which are set in a row round the nest, each opening being 

 situated under a projection, which thus performs the office of a 

 porch as well as that of concealment. 



Another hymenopterous insect carries out the principle of the 

 Porch in its nest. This is the Myrmica Kirbyi, a tiny reddish 

 Ant which inhabits India. It makes its nest of cow-dung, which 

 it works up into a texture very like that of an ordinary wasp- 

 nest. A series of large flakes of this substance overhang the 

 entrances, so that the inhabitants can enter freely, while rain 

 is kept out. For the purpose of greater security, one very 

 large flake covers the roof in umbrella fashion. The whole 

 nest is globular, and about eight inches in diameter. 



Next we come to the projecting Eaves, like those of our 

 houses, and serving to preserve the body of the edifice itself 

 from wet. On the right hand of the illustration there is an 

 example of the eaves as they are still to be seen in some of 

 our country places, where the less picturesque slates have not 

 yet superseded the old thatch. In some places these eaves 

 extend considerably beyond the walls, and I know of several 

 instances, especially in North Devon, where a supplementary 

 set of eaves extends, like a penthouse, throughout the length of 

 the building, and just above the windows of the ground- floor. 



The reader will remark that the projections upon the 

 Myrapetra's nest may very well fulfil the office of eaves as 

 that of porches, and not only shelter the entrances, but serve to 

 shoot the wet off the walls of the nest. 



On the left hand of the illustration are several instances of 

 eaves as existing in Nature. 



