238 HYMENOPTERA. 
all her eggs, to the number of ten or 
twelve ; and when every thing is com- 
pleted slie smooths and dresses the 
ground, so that no trace of her ingenious 
nursery can be discovered. 
Lucy. This is a most curious account 
indeed : but when the larvae, that come 
from the eggs, have eaten up their food, 
what becomes of them, how do they get 
out ? 
Mother, They are then of the proper 
age for their transformation to take place, 
and, after a few days of abstinence, each 
of them spins a cocoon, in which they 
become nymphs. In this state they re- 
main bat a short time, and come forth 
from their earthy nest perfect spheges. 
Lucy, Poor wretched caterpillars, to 
be shut up in such a prison, and gra- 
dually eaten away ! 
Mother, One of the most singular 
circumstances in this process is, that the 
sphex always chooses full grown cater- 
pillars ; just at that period when they 
would naturally leave off eating, prepa- 
