138 STATEN ISLAND INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 
vicinity of the old nest; two of them on the bare face of the 
marble gravestone against which the footstone had at one time 
leaned, and the other at the base of the next gravestone, about one 
foot away. Thus after sixteen days, though their empty nest 
and the sheltering footstone were gone, they were attracted to its 
onetime site and to the place where they were born. 
A still greater surprise however awaited me in connection with 
this nest, for on returning to the cemetery on Nov. 2, following 
several warm and pleasant days, I was astonished to find a female 
wasp basking in the sun on the face of the gravestone. Though 
the empty nest had now been gone for a month, and also the lean- 
ing footstone that had given it shelter, she took advantage of some 
sunny hours to visit the site of her onetime home. 
All summer these wasps had their nest on this marble gravestone 
facing east, and had been contemplating this inscription: 
In memory of Mary, wife of Daniel Corson. Died Aug. 15th, 
1856, Aged 69 years. 
Strangers and friends, 
When this you view, 
Think on death: 
Strive to obtain 
The Heaven called New, 
Ere you resign your breath. 
