第7章

LetusnowshowuptheDioxys。Atthetimewhentheworkofconstructionisinprogress，sheisanimpudentvisitorofthenests，exploitingwiththesameeffronterytheenormouscitiesoftheMason-

beeoftheShedsandthesolitarycupolasoftheMason-beeofthePebbles。Aninnumerablepopulation，comingandgoing，hummingandbuzzing，strikesherwithnoawe。OnthetileshangingfromthewallsofmyporchIseeher，withherredscarfroundherbody，stalkingwithsublimeassuranceovertheridgedexpanseofnests。Herblackschemesleavetheswarmprofoundlyindifferent；notoneoftheworkersdreamsofchasingheroff，unlesssheshouldcomebotheringtooclosely。Eventhen，allthathappensisafewsignsofimpatienceonthepartofthehustledBee。Thereisnoseriousexcitement，noeagerpursuitssuchasthepresenceofamortalenemymightleadustosuspect。Theyarethereintheirthousands，eacharmedwithherdagger；anyoneofthemiscapableofslayingthetraitress；andnotoneattacksher。Thedangerisnotsuspected。

Meanwhile，sheinspectstheworkyard，movesfreelyamongtheranksoftheMasonsandbideshertime。Iftheownerbeabsent，Iseeherdivingintoacell，comingoutagainamomentlaterwithhermouthsmearedwithpollen。Shehasbeentotrytheprovisions。Adaintyconnoisseur，shegoesfromonestoretoanother，takingamouthfulofhoney。Isitatitheforherpersonalmaintenance，orasampletestedforthebenefitofhercominggrub？Ishouldnotliketosay。WhatI

doknowisthat，afteracertainnumberofthesetastings，Icatchherstoppinginacell，withherabdomenatthebottomandherheadattheorifice。Thisisthemomentoflaying，unlessIammuchmistaken。

Whentheparasiteisgone，Iinspectthehome。Iseenothingabnormalonthesurfaceofthemass。Thesharpereyeoftheowner，whenshegetsback，seesnothingeither，forshecontinuesthevictuallingwithoutbetrayingtheleastuneasiness。Astrangeegg，laidontheprovisions，wouldnotescapeher。Iknowhowcleanshekeepsherwarehouse；Iknowhowscrupulouslyshecastsoutanythingintroducedbymyagency：aneggthatisnothers，abitofstraw，agrainofdust。So，accordingtomyevidenceandthatoftheChalicodoma，whichismoreconclusive，theDioxys’segg，ifitisreallylaidthen，isnotplacedonthesurface。

Isuspect，withouthavingyetverifiedmysuspicion——andIreproachmyselffortheneglect——Isuspectthattheeggisburiedintheheapofpollen-dust。WhenIseetheDioxyscomeoutofacellwithhermouthalloveryellowflour，perhapsshehasbeensurveyingthegroundandpreparingahiding-placeforheregg。WhatItakeforameretastingmightwellbeamoreseriousact。Thusconcealed，theeggescapestheeagleeyeoftheBee，whereas，ifleftuncovered，itwouldinevitablyperish，wouldbeflungontherubbishheapatoncebytheownerofthenest。WhentheSpottedSapygalayshereggonthatoftheBramble-dwellingOsmia，shedoesthedeedundercoverofdarkness，inthegloomofadeepwelltowhichnottheleastrayoflightcanpenetrate；andthemother，returningwithherpelletofgreenputtytobuildtheclosingpartition，doesnotseetheusurpinggermandisignorantofthedanger。Buthereeverythinghappensinbroaddaylight；

andthisdemandsmorecunninginthemethodofinstallation。

Besides，itistheonefavourablemomentfortheDioxys。IfshewaitsfortheMason-beetolay，itistoolate，fortheparasiteisnotabletobreakdowndoors，astheStelisdoes。Assoonashereggislaid，theMason-beeoftheShedscomesoutofhercellandatonceturnsroundandproceedstocloseitupwiththepelletofmortarwhichsheholdsreadyinhermandibles。Thematerialisemployedwithsuchmethodthattheactualsealingisdoneinamoment：theotherpellets，theobjectofrepeatedjourneys，willservemerelytoincreasethethicknessofthelid。ThechamberisinaccessibletotheDioxysfromthefirsttouchofthetrowel。HenceitisabsolutelynecessaryforhertoseetohereggbeforetheMason-beeoftheShedshasdisposedofhersandnolessnecessarytoconcealitfromtheMason’swatchfuleye。

ThedifficultiesarenotsogreatinthenestsoftheMason-beeofthePebbles。AfterthisBeehaslaidheregg，sheleavesitforatimetogoinsearchofthecementneededforclosingthecell；or，ifshealreadyholdsapelletinhermandibles，thisisnotenoughtosealitproperly，astheorificeislarger。Morepelletsareneededtowalluptheentranceentirely。TheDioxyswouldhavetimetostrikeherblowduringthemother’sabsences；buteverythingseemstosuggestthatshebehavesonthepebblesasshedoesonthetiles。Shestealsamarchbyhidingtheegginthemassofpollenandhoney。

WhatbecomesoftheMason’seggconfinedinthesamecellwiththeeggoftheDioxys？InvainhaveIopenednestsateveryseason；IhaveneverfoundavestigeoftheeggnorofthegrubofeitherChalicodoma。TheDioxys，whetherasalarvaonthehoney，orenclosedinitscocoon，orastheperfectinsect，wasalwaysalone。Therivalhaddisappearedwithoutatrace。Asuspicionthereuponsuggestsitself；andthefactsaresocompellingthatthesuspicionisalmostequaltoacertainty。Theparasiticgrub，whichhatchesearlierthantheother，emergesfromitshiding-place，fromthemidstofthehoney，comestothesurfaceand，withitsfirstbite，destroystheeggoftheMason-bee，astheSapygadoestheeggoftheOsmia。Itisanodious，butasupremelyefficaciousmethod。Normustwecryouttooloudlyagainstsuchfoulplayonthepartofanewborninfant：weshallmeetwithevenmoreheinoustacticslater。Thecriminalrecordsoflifearefullofthesehorrorswhichwedarenotsearchtoodeeply。Aninfinitesimalcreature，abarely-visiblegrub，withtheswaddling-

clothesofitseggstillclingingtoit，isledbyinstinct，atitsfirstinspiration，toexterminatewhateverisinitsway。

SotheMason’seggisexterminated。WasitreallynecessaryintheDioxys’interest？Notintheleast。ThehoardofprovisionsistoolargeforitsrequirementsinacelloftheChalicodomaoftheSheds；

howmuchmoresoinacelloftheChalicodomaofthePebbles！Sheeatsnotahalf，hardlyathirdofit。Therestremainsasitwas，untouched。Weseehere，inthedestructionoftheMason’segg，aflagrantwastewhichaggravatesthecrime。Hungerexcusesmanythings；

forlackoffood，thesurvivorsontheraftoftheMedusaindulgedinalittlecannibalism；butherethereisenoughfoodandtospare。Whenthereismorethansheneeds，whatearthlymotiveimpelstheDioxystodestroyarivalinthegermstage？Whycannotsheallowthelarva，hermess-mate，totakeadvantageoftheremainsandafterwardstoshiftforitselfasbestitcan？Butno：theMason-bee’soffspringmustneedsbestupidlysacrificedonthetopofprovisionswhichwillonlygrowmouldyanduseless！IshouldbereducedtothegloomylucubrationsofaSchopenhauerifIonceletmyselfbeginonparasitism。

SuchisabriefsketchofthetwoparasitesoftheChalicodomaofthePebbles，trueparasites，consumersofprovisionshoardedonbehalfofothers。TheircrimesarenotthebitteresttribulationsoftheMason-

bee。IfthefirststarvestheMason’sgrubtodeath，ifthesecondmakesitperishintheegg，thereareotherswhohaveamorepitiableendinginstorefortheworker’sfamily。WhentheBee’sgrub，allplumpandfatandgreasy，hasfinisheditsprovisionsandspunitscocoonwhereintosleeptheslumberakintodeath，thenecessaryperiodofpreparationforitsfuturelife，theseotherenemieshastentothenestswhosefortificationsarepowerlessagainsttheirhideouslyingeniousmethods。Soononthesleeper’sbodyliesanascentgrubwhichfeastsinallsecurityonthelusciousfare。Thetraitorswhoattackthelarvaeintheirlethargyarethreeinnumber：anAnthrax，aLeucopsisandamicroscopicdagger-wearer。（Monodontomeruscupreus。ForthisandtheAnthrax，cf。"TheLifeoftheFly"：chapters2and3。TheLeucopsisisaHymenopteron，theessayuponwhomformstheconcludingchapterofthepresentvolume。——Translator’sNote。）

Theirstorydeservestobetoldwithoutreticence；andIshalltellitlater。Forthemoment，Imerelymentionthenamesofthethreeexterminators。

Theprovisionsarestolen，theeggisdestroyed。Theyounggrubdiesofhunger，thelarvaisdevoured。Isthatall？Notyet。Theworkermustbeexploitedthoroughly，inherworkaswellasinherfamily。

Herearesomenowwhocovetherdwelling。WhentheMasonisconstructinganewedificeonapebble，heralmostconstantpresenceisenoughtokeeptheaspirantstofreelodgingsatadistance；herstrengthandvigilanceoverawewhosowouldannexhermasonry。If，inherabsence，onegreatlydaringthinksofvisitingthebuilding，theownersoonappearsuponthesceneandoustsherwiththemostdiscouraginganimosity。Shehasnoneedthentofeartheentranceofunwelcometenantswhilethehouseisnew。ButtheBeeofthePebblesalsousesolddwellingsforherlaying，aslongastheyarenottoomuchdilapidated。Intheearlystagesofthework，neighbourscompeteforthesewithaneagernesswhichshowsthevalueattachedtothem。

Facetoface，attimeswiththeirmandiblesinterlocked，nowbothrisingintotheair，nowcomingdownagain，thentouchinggroundandrollingovereachother，nextflyingupagain，forhoursonendtheywillwagebattleforthepropertyatissue。

Aready-madenest，afamilyheirloomwhichneedsbutalittlerestoring，isapreciousthingfortheMason，eversparingofhertime。WefindsomanyoftheoldhomesrepairedandrestockedthatI

suspecttheBeeoflayingnewfoundationsonlywhentherearenosecondhandneststobehad。Tohavethechambersofadomeoccupiedbyastrangerthereforemeansaseriousprivation。

NowseveralBees，howeverindustriousingatheringhoney，buildingparty-wallsandcontrivingreceptaclesforprovisions，arelesscleveratpreparingtheresortsinwhichthecellsaretobestacked。TheabandonedchambersoftheChalicodoma，nowlargerthantheywereoriginally，throughtheadditionofthehallofexit，arefirst-rateacquisitionsforthem。Thegreatthingistooccupythesechambersfirst，forherepossessionisninepartsofthelaw。Onceestablished，theMasonisnotdisturbedinherhome，whileshe，inherturn，doesnotdisturbthestrangerwhohassettleddownbeforeherinanoldnest，thepatrimonyofherfamily。ThedisinheritedoneleavestheBohemiantoenjoytheruinedmanorinpeaceandgoestoanotherpebbletoestablishherselfatfreshexpense。

Inthefirstrankofthesefreetenants，IwillplaceanOsmia（Osmiacyanoxantha，PEREZ）andaMegachile，orLeaf-cuttingBee（Megachileapicalis，SPIN。）（Cf。"Bramble-dwellersandOthers"：chapter8。——

Translator’sNote。），bothofwhomworkinMay，atthesametimeastheMason，whilebotharesmallenoughtolodgefromfivetoeightcellsinasinglechamberoftheChalicodoma，achamberincreasedbytheadditionofanouterhall。TheOsmiasubdividesthisspaceintoveryirregularcompartmentsbymeansofslanting，uprightorcurvedpartitions，subjecttothedictatesofspace。Thereisnoart，consequently，intheaccumulationoflittlecells；thearchitect’sonlytaskistousethebreadthatherdisposalinafrugalmanner。

Thematerialemployedforthepartitionsisagreen，vegetableputty，whichtheOsmiamustobtainbychewingtheshreddedleavesofaplantwhosenatureisstilluncertain。Thesamegreenpasteservesforthethickplugthatclosestheabode。Butinthiscasetheinsectdoesnotuseitunadulterated。Togivegreaterpowerofresistancetothework，itmixesanumberofbitsofgravelwiththevegetablecement。Thesematerials，whichareeasilypickedup，arelavishlyemployed，asthoughthemotherfearedlestsheshouldnotfortifysufficientlytheentrancetoherdwelling。Theyformasortofcoarsestucco，onthemoreorlesssmoothcupolaoftheChalicodoma；andthisunevenness，aswellasthegreencolouringofitsmortarofmasticatedleaves，atoncebetraystheOsmia’snest。Incourseoftime，undertheprolongedactionoftheair，thevegetableputtyturnsbrownandassumesadead-

leaftint，especiallyontheoutsideoftheplug；anditwouldthenbedifficultforanyonewhohadnotseenthemwhenfreshlymadetorecognizetheirnature。

TheoldnestsonthepebblesseemtosuitotherOsmiae。MynotesmentionOsmiaMorawitzi，PEREZ，andOsmiacyanea，KIRB。，ashavingbeenrecognizedinthesedwellings，althoughtheyarenotveryassiduousvisitors。Lastly，tocompletetheenumerationoftheBeesknowntomeasmakingtheirhomesintheMason’scupolas，ImustaddMegachileapicalis，whopilesineachcellahalf-dozenormorehoney-

potsconstructedwithdiskscutfromtheleavesofthewildrose，andanAnthidiumwhosespeciesIcannotstate，havingseennothingofherbutherwhitecottonsacks。

TheMason-beeoftheSheds，ontheotherhand，suppliesfreelodgingstotwospeciesofOsmiae，Osmiatricornis，LATR。，andOsmiaLatreillii，SPIN。，bothofwhomarequitecommon。TheThree-hornedOsmiafrequentsbypreferencethehabitationsoftheBeesthatbuildtheirnestsinpopulouscolonies，suchastheChalicodomaoftheShedsandtheHairy-footedAnthophora。Latreille’sOsmiaisnearlyalwaysfoundwiththeThree-hornedOsmiaattheChalicodoma’s。

Therealbuilderofthecityandtheexploiterofthelabourofothersworktogether，atthesameperiod，formacommonswarmandliveinperfectharmony，eachBeeofthetwospeciesattendingtoherbusinessinpeace。Theyshareandsharealike，asthoughbytacitagreement。IstheOsmiadiscreetenoughnottoputuponthegood-naturedMasonandtoutilizeonlyabandonedpassagesandwastecells？Ordoesshetakepossessionofthehomeofwhichtherealownerscouldthemselveshavemadeuse？Ileaninfavourofusurpation，foritisnotraretoseetheChalicodomaoftheShedsclearingoutoldcellsandusingthemasdoeshersisterofthePebbles。Bethisasitmay，allthislittlebusyworldliveswithoutstrife，somebuildinganew，othersdividinguptheolddwelling。

ThoseOsmiae，onthecontrary，whoaretheself-invitedguestsoftheMason-beeofthePebblesarethesoleoccupantsofthedome。Thecauseofthisisolationliesintheunsociabletemperoftheproprietress。

Theoldnestdoesnotsuitherfromthemomentthatsheseesitoccupiedbyanother。Insteadofgoingshares，shepreferstoseekelsewhereadwellingwhereshecanworkinsolitude。HergracioussurrenderofamostexcellentlodginginfavourofastrangerwhowouldbeincapableofofferingtheleastresistanceifadisputearoseprovesthegreatimmunityenjoyedbytheOsmiainthehomeoftheworkerwhomsheexploits。ThecommonandpeacefulswarmingoftheMason-beeoftheShedsandthetwocell-borrowingOsmiaeprovesitinastillmorepositivefashion。Thereisneverafightfortheacquisitionofanother’sgoodsorthedefenceofone’sownproperty；

neverabrawlbetweenOsmiaeandChalicodomae。Robberandrobbedliveonthemostneighbourlyterms。TheOsmiaconsidersherselfathome；

andtheotherdoesnothingtoundeceiveher。Iftheparasites，sodeadlytotheworkers，moveaboutintheirveryrankswithimpunity，withoutarousingthefaintestexcitement，anequallycompleteindifferencemustbeshownbythedispossessedownerstothepresenceoftheusurpersintheiroldhomes。IshouldbegreatlyputtoitifI

wereaskedtoreconcilethiscalmnessonthepartoftheexpropriatedonewiththeruthlesscompetitionthatissaidtoswaytheworld。

FashionedsoastoinstalherselfintheMason’sproperty，theOsmiameetswithapeacefulreceptionfromher。Myfeebleeyescanseenofurther。

Ihavenamedtheprovision-thieves，thegrub-murderersandthehouse-

grabberswholevytributeontheMason-bee。Doesthatendthelist？

Notatall。Theoldnestsarecitiesofthedead。TheycontainBeeswho，onachievingtheperfectstate，wereunabletoopentheexit-doorthroughthecementandwhowitheredintheircells；theycontaindeadlarvae，turnedintoblack，brittlecylinders；untouchedprovisions，bothmouldyandfresh，onwhichtheegghascometogrief；tatteredcocoons；shredsofskins；relicsofthetransformation。

IfweremovethenestoftheChalicodomaoftheShedsfromitstile——anestsometimesquiteeightinchesthick——wefindliveinhabitantsonlyinathinouterlayer。Alltheremainder，thecatacombsofpastgenerations，isbutahorribleheapofdead，shrivelled，ruined，decomposedthings。Intothissub-stratumoftheancientcitytheunreleasedBees，theuntransformedlarvaefallasdust；herethehoney-storesofoldgosour，heretheuneatenprovisionsarereducedtomould。

Threeundertakers，allmembersoftheBeetletribe，aClerus，aPtinusandanAnthrenus，battenontheseremains。ThelarvaeoftheAnthrenusandthePtinusgnawtheashesofthecorpses；thelarvaoftheClerus，withtheblackheadandtherestofitsbodyaprettypink，appearedtometobebreakingintotheoldjam-potsfilledwithrancidhoney。

Theperfectinsectitself，garbedinvermilionwithblueornaments，isfairlycommononthesurfaceoftheclayslabsduringtheworkingseason，strollingleisurelythroughtheyardtotastehereandtherethedropsofhoneyoozingfromsomecrackedpot。Notwithstandinghisshowylivery，sounliketheworkers’sombrefrieze，theChalicodomaeleavehiminpeace，asthoughtheyrecognizedinhimthescavengerwhosedutyitistokeepthesewerswholesome。

Ravagedbythepassingyears，theMason’shomeatlastfallsintoruinandbecomesahovel。Exposedasitistothedirectactionofwindandweather，thedomebuiltuponapebblechipsandcracks。Torepairitwouldbetooirksome，norwouldthatrestoretheoriginalsolidityoftheshakyfoundation。Betterprotectedbythecoveringofaroof，thecityoftheshedsresistslonger，withouthoweverescapingeventualdecay。Thestoreyswhicheachgenerationaddstothoseinwhichitwasbornincreasethethicknessandtheweightoftheedificeinalarmingproportions。Themoistureofthetilefiltersintotheoldestlayers，wrecksthefoundationsandthreatensthenestwithaspeedyfall。Itistimetoabandonforgoodthehousewithitscracksandrents。

Thereuponthecrumblingapartments，onthepebbleaswellasonthetile，becomethehomeofacampofgypsieswhoarenotparticularwheretheyfindashelter。Theshapelesshovel，reducedtoafragmentofawall，findsoccupants，fortheMason’sworkmustbeexploitedtotheutmostlimitsofpossibility。Intheblindalleys，allthatremainsoftheformercells，Spidersweaveawhite-satinscreen，behindwhichtheylieinwaitforthepassinggame。Innookswhichtheyrepairinsummaryfashionwithearthenembankmentsorclaypartitions，HuntingWasps——PompiliandTripoxyla——storeupsmallmembersoftheSpidertribe，includingsometimestheWeavingSpiderswholiveinthesameruins。

IhavesaidnothingyetoftheChalicodomaoftheShrubs。Mysilenceisnotduetonegligence，buttothecircumstancethatIamalmostdestituteoffactsrelatingtoherparasites。OfthemanynestswhichIhaveopenedinordertostudytheirinhabitants，onlyonesofarhasbeeninvadedbystrangers。Thisnest，thesizeofalargewalnut，wasfixedonapomegranate-branch。Itcomprisedeightcells，ofwhichsevenwereoccupiedbytheChalicodoma，andtheeighthbyalittleChalcis，theplagueofawholehostoftheBee-tribe。Apartfromthisinstance，whichwasnotaveryseriouscase，Ihaveseennothing。Inthoseaerialnests，swingingattheendofatwig，notaDioxys，aStelis，anAnthrax，aLeucopsis，thosedreadravagersoftheothertwoMasons；neveranyOsmiae，MegachilesorAnthidia，thoselodgersintheoldbuildings。

Theabsenceofthelatteriseasilyexplained。TheChalicodoma’smasonrydoesnotlastlongonitsfrailsupport。Thewinterwinds，whentheshelterofthefoliagehasdisappeared，musteasilybreakthetwig，whichislittlethickerthanastrawandliabletogivewaybyreasonofitsheavyburden。Threatenedwithanearlyfall，ifitisnotalreadyontheground，lastyear’sdwellingisnotrestoredtoservetheneedsofthepresentgeneration。Thesamenestdoesnotservetwice；andthisdoesawaywiththeOsmiaeandwiththeirrivalsintheartofutilizingoldcells。

Theelucidationofthispointdoesnotremovetheobscurityofthenext。Icanseenothingtoaccountfortheabsenceoratleasttheextremerarenessofusurpersofprovisionsandconsumersofgrubs，bothofwhomareveryindifferenttotheneworoldconditionsofthenest，solongasthecellsarewellstocked。CanitbethattheloftypositionoftheedificeandtheshakysupportofthetwigarousedistrustintheDioxysandothermalefactors？Forlackofabetterexplanation，Iwillleaveitatthat。

Ifmyideaisnotanemptyfancy，wemustadmitthattheChalicodomaoftheShrubswassingularlywell-inspiredinbuildinginmid-air。Youhaveseenofwhatmisfortunestheothertwoarevictims。IfItakeacensusofthepopulationofatile，manyatimeIfindtheDioxysandtheMason-beeinalmostequalproportions。Theparasitehaswipedouthalfthecolony。Tocompletethedisaster，itisnotunusualforthegrub-eaters，theLeucopsisandherrival，thepygmyChalcis，tohavedecimatedtheotherhalf。IsaynothingofAnthraxsinuata，whomI

sometimesseecomingfromthenestsoftheChalicodomaoftheSheds；

herlarvapreysontheThree-hornedOsmia，theMason-bee’svisitor。

Allsolitarythoughshebeonherboulder，whichwouldseemtheproperthingtokeepawayexploiters，thescourgeofdensepopulations，theChalicodomaofthePebblesisnolesssorelytried。Mynotesaboundincasessuchasthefollowing：oftheninecellsinonedome，threeareoccupiedbytheAnthrax，twobytheLeucopsis，twobytheStelis，onebytheChalcisandtheninthbytheMason。Itisasthoughthefourmiscreantshadjoinedforcesforthemassacre：thewholeoftheBee’sfamilyhasdisappeared，allbutoneyoungmothersavedfromthedisasterbyherpositioninthecentreofthecitadel。Ihavesometimesstuffedmypocketswithnestsremovedfromtheirpebbleswithoutfindingasingleonethathasnotbeenviolatedbyoneorotherofthemalefactorsandoftenerstillbyseveralofthematatime。Itisalmostaneventformetofindanestintact。Afterthesefunerealrecords，Iamhauntedbyagloomythought：thewealofonemeansthewoeofanother。

CHAPTER11。THELEUCOPSES。

（Thischaptershouldbereadinconjunctionwiththeessaysentitled"TheAnthrax"and"LarvalDimorphism"，formingchapters2and4of"TheLifeoftheFly。"——Translator’sNote。）

LetusvisitthenestsofChalicodomamurariainJuly，detachingthemfromtheirpebbleswithasidewardblow，asIexplainedwhentellingthestoryoftheAnthrax。TheMason-bee’scocoonswithtwoinhabitants，onedevouring，theotherinprocessofbeingdevoured，arenumerousenoughtoallowmetogathersomedozensinthecourseofamorning，beforethesunbecomesunbearablyhot。Wewillgiveasmarttaptotheflintssoastoloosentheclaydomes，wraptheseupinnewspapers，fillourboxandgohomeasfastaswecan，fortheairwillsoonbeasfieryasthedevil’skitchen。

Inspection，whichiseasierintheshadeindoors，soontellsusthat，thoughthedevouredisalwaysthewretchedMason-bee，thedevourerbelongstotwodifferentspecies。Intheonecase，thecylindricalform，thecreamy-whitecolouringandthelittlenippleconstitutingtheheadrevealtousthelarvaoftheAnthrax，whichdoesnotconcernusatpresent；intheother，thegeneralstructureandappearancebetraythegrubofsomeHymenopteron。TheMason’ssecondexterminatoris，infact，aLeucopsis（Leucopsisgigas，FAB。），amagnificentinsect，strippedblackandyellow，withanabdomenroundedattheendandhollowedout，asisalsotheback，intoagroovetocontainalongrapier，asslenderasahorsehair，whichthecreatureunsheathesanddrivesthroughthemortarrightintothecellwhereitproposestoestablishitsegg。Beforeoccupyingourselveswithitscapacitiesasaninoculator，letuslearnhowitslarvalivesintheinvadedcell。

Itisahairless，legless，sightlessgrub，easilyconfused，byinexperiencedeyes，withthoseofvarioushoney-gatheringHymenoptera。

Itsmoreapparentcharacteristicsconsistofacolouringlikethatofrancidbutter，ashinyandasitwereoilyskinandasegmentationaccentuatedbyaseriesofmarkedswellings，sothat，whenlookedatfromtheside，thebackisveryplainlyindented。Whenatrest，thelarvaislikeabowbendingroundatonepoint。Itismadeupofthirteensegments，includingthehead。Thishead，whichisverysmallcomparedwiththerestofthebody，displaysnomouth-partunderthelens；atmostyouseeafaintredstreak，whichcallsforthemicroscope。Youthendistinguishtwodelicatemandibles，veryshortandfashionedintoasharppoint。Asmallroundmouth，withafinepiercerontherightandleft，isallthatthepowerfulinstrumentreveals。Asformybestsinglemagnifying-glasses，theyshowmenothingatall。Ontheotherhand，wecanquiteeasily，withoutarmingtheeyewithalens，perceivethemouth-apparatus——andparticularlythemandibles——ofeitherahoney-eater，suchasanOsmia，ChalicodomaorMegachile，oragame-eater，suchasaScolia，AmmophilaorBembex。

Allthesepossessstoutpincers，capableofgripping，grindingandtearing。ThenwhatisthepurposeoftheLeucopsis’invisibleimplements？Hismethodofconsumingwilltellus。

Likehisprototype，theAnthrax，theLeucopsisdoesnoteattheChalicodoma-grub，thatistosay，hedoesnotbreakitupintomouthfuls；hedrainsitwithoutopeningitanddiggingintoitsvitals。Inhimagainweseeexemplifiedthatmarvellousartwhichconsistsinfeedingonthevictimwithoutkillingituntilthemealisover，soasalwaystohaveaportionoffreshmeat。Withitsmouthassiduouslyappliedtotheunhappycreature’sskin，thelethalgrubfillsitselfandwaxesfat，whilethefosteringlarvacollapsesandshrivels，retainingjustenoughlife，however，toresistdecomposition。Allthatremainsofthedecantedcorpseistheskin，which，whensoftenedinwaterandblownout，swellsintoaballoonwithouttheleastescapeofgas，thusprovingthecontinuityoftheintegument。Allthesame，theapparentlyunpuncturedbladderhaslostitscontents。ItisarepetitionofwhattheAnthraxhasshownus，withthisdifference，thattheLeucopsisseemsnotsowellskilledinthedelicateworkofabsorbingthevictim。InsteadofthecleanwhitegranulewhichisthesoleresiduewhentheFlyhasfinishedherjoint，theinsectwiththelongprobehasaplatefulofleavings，notseldomsoiledwiththebrownishtingeoffoodthathasgonebad。Itwouldseemthat，towardstheend，theactofconsumptionbecomesmoresavageanddoesnotdisdaindeadmeat。IalsonoticethattheLeucopsisisnotabletogetupfromdinnerortositdowntoitagainasreadilyastheAnthrax。Ihavesometimestoteasehimwiththepointofahair-pencilinordertomakehimletgo；and，oncehehasleftthejoint，hehesitatesalittlebeforeputtinghismouthtoitagain。Hisadhesionisnotthemereresultofakisslikethatofacupping-

glass；itcanonlybeexplainedbyhooksthatneedreleasing。

Inowseetheuseofthemicroscopicmandibles。Thosetwodelicatespikesareincapableofchewinganything，buttheymayverywellservetopiercetheepidermiswithanaperturesmallerthanthatmadebythefinestneedle；anditisthroughthispuncturethattheLeucopsissucksthejuicesofhisprey。Theyareinstrumentsmadetoperforatethebagoffatwhichslowly，withoutsufferinganyinternalinjury，isemptiedthroughanopeningrepeatedhereandthere。TheAnthrax’

cupping-glassisherereplacedbypiercersofexceedingsharpnessandsoshortthattheycannothurtanythingbeyondtheskin。Thusdoweseeinoperation，withadifferentsortofimplements，thatwisesystemwhichkeepstheprovisionsfreshfortheconsumer。

Itishardlynecessarytosay，tothosewhohavereadthestoryoftheAnthrax，thatthiskindoffeedingwouldbeimpossiblewithavictimwhosetissuespossessedtheirfinalhardness。TheMason-bee’sgrubisthereforeemptiedbytheLeucopsis’larvawhileitisinasemifluidstateanddeepinthetorporofthenymphosis。ThelastfortnightinJulyandthefirstfortnightinAugustarethebesttimestowitnesstherepast，whichIhaveseengoingonfortwelveandfourteendays。

Later，wefindnothingintheMason-bee’scocoonexcepttheLeucopsis’

larva，gloriouslyfat，and，byitsside，asortofthin，rancidrasher，theremainsofthedeceasedwet-nurse。ThingsthenremainastheyareuntilthehotpartofthefollowingsummeroratleastuntiltheendofJune。

Thenappearsthenymph，whichteachesusnothingstriking；andatlasttheperfectinsect，whosehatchingmaybedelayeduntilAugust。ItsexitfromtheMason’sfortresshasnolikenesstothestrangemethodemployedbytheAnthrax。Endowedwithstoutmandibles，theperfectinsectsplitstheceilingofitsabodebyitselfwithoutmuchdifficulty。Atthetimeofitsdeliverance，theMason-bees，whoworkinMay，havelongdisappeared。Thenestsonthepebblesareallclosed，theprovisioningisfinished，thelarvaearesleepingintheiryellowcocoons。AstheoldnestsareutilizedbytheMasonsolongastheyarenottoomuchdilapidated，thedomewhichhasjustbeenvacatedbytheLeucopsis，nowmorethanayearold，hasitsothercellsoccupiedbytheBee’schildren。Thereishere，withoutseekingfarther，afatlivingfortheLeucopsis’offspringwhichshewellknowshowtoturntoprofit。Itdependsbutonherselftomakethehouseinwhichshewasbornintotheresidenceofherfamily。Besides，ifshehasafancyfordistantexploration，claydomesaboundintheharmas。Theinoculationoftheeggsthroughthewallswillbeginshortly。Beforewitnessingthiscuriousperformance，letusexaminetheneedlethatistoeffectit。

Theinsect’sabdomenishollowed，atthetop，intoafurrowthatrunsuptothebaseofthethorax；theend，whichisbroaderandrounded，hasanarrowslit，whichseemstodividethisregionintotwo。Thewholethingsuggestsapulleywithafinegroove。Whenatrest，theinoculating-needleorovipositorremainspackedintheslitandthefurrow。Thedelicateinstrumentthusalmostcompletelyencirclestheabdomen。Underneath，onthemedianline，weseealong，dark-brownscale，pointed，keel-shaped，fixedbyitsbasetothefirstabdominalsegment，withitssidesprolongedintomembranouswingswhicharefastenedtightlytotheinsect’sflanks。Itsfunctionistoprotecttheunderlyingregion，asoft-walledregioninwhichtheprobehasitssource。Itisacuirass，alidwhichprotectsthedelicatemotor-

machineryduringperiodsofinactivitybutswingsfrombacktofrontandliftswhentheimplementhastobeunsheathedandused。

Wewillnowremovethislidwiththescissors，soastohavethewholeapparatusbeforeoureyes，andthenraisetheovipositorwiththepointofaneedle。Thepartthatrunsalongthebackcomesloosewithouttheslightestdifficulty，butthepartembeddedinthegrooveattheendoftheabdomenoffersaresistancethatwarnsusofacomplicationwhichwedidnotnoticeatfirst。Thetool，infact，consistsofthreepieces，acentralpiece，orinoculating-filament，andtwoside-pieces，whichtogetherconstituteascabbard。Thetwolatteraremoresubstantial，arehollowedoutlikethesidesofagrooveand，whenuniting，formacompletegrooveinwhichthefilamentissheathed。Thisbivalvularscabbardadhereslooselytothedorsalpart；but，fartheron，atthetipoftheabdomenandunderthebelly，itcannolongerbedetached，asitsvalvesareweldedtotheabdominalwall。Here，therefore，wefind，betweenthetwojoinedprotectingparts，asimpletrenchinwhichthefilamentliescoveredup。Asforthisfilament，itiseasilyextractedfromitssheathandreleaseddowntoitsbase，undertheshieldformedbythescale。

Seenunderthemagnifying-glass，itisaround，stiff，hornythread，midwayinthicknessbetweenahumanhairandahorse-hair。Itstipisalittlerough，pointedandbevelledtosomelengthdown。Themicroscopebecomesnecessaryifwewouldseeitsrealstructure，whichismuchlesssimplethanitatfirstappears。Weperceivethatthebevelledend-partconsistsofaseriesoftruncatedcones，fittingoneintotheother，withtheirwidebaseslightlyprojecting。Thisarrangementproducesasortoffile，asortofraspwithverymuchbluntedteeth。Whenpressedontheslide，thethreaddividesintofourpiecesofunequallength。Thetwolongerendinthetoothedbevel。

Theycometogetherinaverynarrowgroove，whichreceivesthetwoother，rathershorterpieces。Thesebothendinapoint，which，however，isnottoothedanddoesnotprojectasfarasthefinalrasp。

Theyalsounitetoformagroove，whichfitsintothegrooveoftheothertwo，thewholeconstitutingacompletechannelorduct。

Moreover，thetwoshorterpieces，consideredtogether，canmove，lengthwise，inthegroovethatreceivesthem；theycanalsomoveoneovertheother，alwayslengthwise，somuchsothat，ontheslideofthemicroscope，theirterminalpointsareseldomsituatedonthesamelevel。

Ifwithourscissorswecutapieceoftheinoculating-threadfromthelivinginsectandexaminethesectionunderthemagnifying-glass，weshallseetheinnergroovelengthenoutandprojectbeyondtheoutergrooveandthengoinagaininturn，whilefromthewoundthereoozesatinyalbimunousdrop，doubtlessproceedingfromtheliquidthatgivestheeggthesingularappendagetowhichweshallcomepresently。

Bymeansoftheselongitudinalmovementsoftheinnertrenchinsidetheoutertrenchandofthesliding，oneovertheother，ofthetwoportionsoftheformer，theeggcanbedespatchedtotheendoftheovipositornotwithstandingtheabsenceofanymuscularcontraction，whichisimpossibleinahornyconduit。

Wehaveonlytopresstheuppersurfaceoftheabdomentoseeitdisjointitselffromthefirstsegment，asthoughtheinsecthadbeencutalmostintwoatthatpoint。Awidegaporhiatusappearsbetweenthefirstandsecondrings；and，underathinmembrane，thebaseoftheovipositorbulgesout，bentbackintoastouthook。Herethefilamentpassesthroughtheinsectfromendtoendandemergesunderneath。Itsissueisthereforenearthebaseoftheabdomen，insteadofatthetip，asusual。Thiscuriousarrangementhastheeffectofshorteningthelever-armoftheovipositorandbringingthestarting-pointofthefilamentnearertothefulcrum，namely，thelegsoftheinsect，andofthusassistingthedifficulttaskofinoculationbymakingthemostoftheeffortexpended。

Tosumup，theovipositorwhenatrestgoesroundtheabdomen。

Startingatthebase，onthelowersurface，itrunsroundthebellyfromfronttobackandthenreturnsfrombacktofrontontheuppersurface，whereitendsatalmostthesamelevelasitsstarting-point。

Itslengthis14millimetres。（。546inch——Translator’sNote。）ThisfixesthelimitofthedepthwhichtheprobeisabletoreachintheMason-bee’snests。

OnelastwordontheLeucopsis’weapon。Inthedyinginsect，beheaded，strippedoflegsandwings，withapinstuckthroughitsbody，thesidesofthefissurecontainingtheinoculating-threadquiverviolently，asifthebellyweregoingtoopen，divideintwoalongthemedianlineandthenreuniteitstwohalves。Thethreaditselfgivesconvulsivetremblings；itcomesoutofitsscabbard，goesbackandslipsoutagain。Itisasthoughthelaying-implementcouldnotpersuadeitselftodiebeforeaccomplishingitsmission。Theinsect’ssupremeaimistheegg；and，solongastheleastsparkofliferemains，itmakesdyingeffortstolay。

LeucopsisgigasexploitsthenestsoftheMason-beeofthePebblesandtheMason-beeoftheShedswithequalzest。Toobservetheinsertionoftheeggatmyeaseandtowatchtheoperatoratworkoverandoveragain，Igavethepreferencetothelast-namedMason，whosenests，removedfromtheneighbouringroofsbymyorders，havehungforsomeyearsinthearchofmybasement。Theseclayhivesfastenedtotilessupplymewithfreshrecordseachsummer。IammuchindebtedtotheminthematteroftheLeucopsis’life-history。

Bywayofcomparisonwithwhattookplaceundermyroof，Iusedtoobservethesamescenesonthepebblesofthesurroundingwastelands。

Myexcursions，alas，didnotallrewardmyzeal，whichzealwasnotwithoutmeritinthemercilesssunshine；butstill，atrareintervals，IsucceededinseeingsomeLeucopsisdiggingherprobeintothemortardome。Lyingflatontheground，fromthebeginningtotheendoftheoperation，whichsometimeslastedforhours，Icloselywatchedtheinsectinitseverymovement，whilemyDog，wearyofbeingoutofdoorsinthatscorchingheat，woulddiscreetlyretirefromthefrayand，withhistailbetweenhislegsandhistonguehangingout，gohomeandstretchhimselfatfulllengthonthecooltilesofthehall。

Howwisehewastoscornthispebble-gazing！Iwouldcomeinhalf-

roasted，asbrownasaberry，tofindmyfriendBullwedgedintoacorner，hisbacktothewall，sprawlingonallfours，while，withheavingsides，hepantedforththelastspraysofsteamfromhisoverheatedinterior。Yes，hewasmuchbetter-advisedtoreturnasfastashecouldtotheshadeofthehouse。Whydoesmanwanttoknowthings？Whyishenotindifferenttothem，withtheloftyphilosophyoftheanimals？Whatinterestcananythinghaveforusthatdoesnotfillourstomachs？Whatistheuseoflearning？Whatistheuseoftruth，whenprofitisallthatmatters？WhyamI——thedescendant，sotheytellme，ofsometertiaryBaboon——afflictedwiththepassionforknowledgefromwhichBull，myfriendandcompanion，isexempt？

Why……oh，wherehaveIgotto？Iwasgoingin，wasn’tI，withasplittingheadache？Quick，letusgetbacktooursubject！

ItwasinthefirstweekofJulythatIsawtheinoculationbeginonmyChalicodomasiculanests。Theparasiteisathertaskinthehottestpartoftheday，closeonthreeo’clockintheafternoon；andworkgoesonalmosttotheendofthemonth，decreasinggraduallyinactivity。IcountasmanyastwelveLeucopsesatatimeonthemostthickly-populatedpairoftiles。Theinsectslowlyandawkwardlyexploresthenests。Itfeelsthesurfacewithitsantennae，whicharebentatarightangleafterthefirstjoint。Then，motionless，withloweredhead，itseemstomeditateandtodebatewithinitselfonthefitnessofthespot。Isithereorsomewhereelsethatthecovetedlarvalies？Thereisnothingoutside，absolutelynothing，totellus。

Itisastonyexpanse，bumpybutyetveryuniforminappearance，forthecellshavedisappearedunderalayerofplaster，aworkofpublicinteresttowhichthewholeswarmdevotesitslastdays。IfImyself，withmylongexperience，hadtodecideuponthesuitablepoint，evenifIwereatlibertytomakeuseofalensforexaminingthemortargrainbygrainandtoauscultatethesurfaceinordertogatherinformationfromthesoundemitted，Ishoulddeclinethejob，persuadedinadvancethatIshouldfailninetimesoutoftenandonlysucceedbychance。

Wheremydiscernment，aidedbyreasonandmyopticalcontrivances，fails，theinsect，guidedbythewandsofitsantennae，neverblunders。Itschoiceismade。Seeitunsheathingitslonginstrument。

Theprobepointsnormallytowardsthesurfaceandoccupiesnearlythecentralspotbetweenthetwomiddle-legs。Awidedislocationappearsontheback，betweenthefirstandsecondsegmentsoftheabdomen；andthebaseoftheinstrumentswellslikeabladderthroughthisopening；

whilethepointstrivestopenetratethehardclay。Theamountofenergyexpendedisshownbythewayinwhichthebladderquivers。Ateverymomentweexpecttoseethefrailmembraneburstwiththeviolenceoftheeffort。Butitdoesnotgiveway；andthewiregoesdeeperanddeeper。

Raisingitselfhighonitslegs，togivefreeplaytoitsapparatus，theinsectremainsmotionless，theonlysignofitsarduouslaboursbeingaslightvibration。Iseesomeperforatorswhohavefinishedoperatinginaquarterofanhour。Thesearethequickestatthebusiness。Theyhavebeenluckyenoughtocomeacrossawallwhichislessthickandlesshardthanusual。Iseeotherswhospendasmanyasthreehoursonasingleoperation，threelonghoursofpatientwatchingforme，inmyanxietytofollowthewholeperformancetotheend，threelonghoursofimmobilityfortheinsect，whichisevenmoreanxioustomakesureofboardandlodgingforitsegg。Butthenisitnotataskoftheutmostdifficultytointroduceahairintothethicknessofastone？Tous，withallthedexterityofourfingers，itwouldbeimpossible；totheinsect，whichsimplypusheswithitsbelly，itisjusthardwork。

Notwithstandingtheresistanceofthesubstancetraversed，theLeucopsisperseveres，certainofsucceeding；andshedoessucceed，althoughIamstillunabletounderstandhersuccess。Thematerialthroughwhichtheprobehastopenetrateisnotaporoussubstance；itishomogeneousandcompact，likeourhardenedcement。InvaindoI

directmyattentiontotheexactpointwheretheinstrumentisatwork；Iseenofissure，noopeningthatcanfacilitateaccess。A

miner’sdrillpenetratestherockonlybypulverizingit。Thismethodisnotadmissiblehere；theextremedelicacyoftheimplementisopposedtoit。Thefrailstemrequires，soitseemstome，aready-

madeway，acrevicethroughwhichitcanslip；butthiscreviceIhaveneverbeenabletodiscover。Whataboutadissolvingfluidwhichwouldsoftenthemortarunderthepointoftheovipositor？No，forIseenotatraceofhumidityaroundthepointwherethethreadisatwork。I

fallbackuponafissure，alackofcontinuitysomewhere，althoughmyexaminationfailstodiscoveranyontheMason-bee’snest。Iwasbetterservedinanothercase。Leucopsisdorsigera，FAB。，settleshereggsonthelarvaoftheDiademAnthidium，whosometimesmakeshernestinreed-stumps。Ihaverepeatedlyseenherinsertheraugerthroughaslightruptureinthesideofthereed。Asthewallwasdifferent，woodinthelattercaseandmortarintheformer，perhapsitwillbebesttolookuponthematterasamystery。

Mysedulousattendance，duringthebestpartofJuly，infrontofthetileshangingfromthewallsofthearch，allowedmetoreckontheinoculations。Eachtimethattheinsect，onfinishingtheoperation，removeditsprobe，Imarkedinpenciltheexactpointatwhichtheinstrumentwaswithdrawn；andIwrotedownthedatebesideit。ThisinformationwastobeutilizedwhentheLeucopsisfinishedherlabours。

Whentheperforatorsaregone，Iproceedwithmyexaminationofthenests，coveredwithmyhieroglyphics，thepencillednotes。Oneresult，onewhichIfullyexpected，compensatesmestraightwayforallmywearywaitings。Undereachspotmarkedinblack，undereachspotwhenceIsawtheovipositorwithdrawn，Ialwaysfindacell，withnotasingleexception。Andyetthereareintervalsofsolidstonebetweenthecells：thepartition-wallsalonewouldaccountforsome。Moreover，thecompartments，whichareveryirregularlydisposedbyaswarmoftoilerswhoallworkintheirownsweetway，havegreatirregularcavitiesbetweenthem，whichendbybeingfilledupwiththegeneralplasteringofthenest。Theresultofthisarrangementisthatthemassiveportionscoveralmostthesamespaceasthehollowportions。

Thereisnothingoutsidetoshowwhethertheunderlyingregionsarefullorempty。Itisquiteimpossibleformetodecideif，bydiggingstraightdown，Ishallcometoahollowcellortoasolidwall。

Buttheinsectmakesnomistake：theexcavationsundermypencil-marksbearwitnesstothat；italwaysdirectsitsapparatustowardsthehollowofacell。Howisitapprisedwhetherthepartbelowisemptyorfull？Itsorgansofinformationareundoubtedlytheantennae，whichfeeltheground。Theyaretwofingersofunparalleleddelicacy，whichpryintothebasementbytappingonthepartaboveit。Thenwhatdothosepuzzlingorgansperceive？Asmell？Notatall；IalwayshadmydoubtsofthatandnowIamcertainofthecontrary，afterwhatI

shalldescribeinamoment。Dotheyperceiveasound？Arewetotreatthemasasuperiorkindofmicrophone，capableofcollectingtheinfinitesimalechoesofwhatisfullandthereverberationsofwhatisempty？Itisanattractiveidea，butunfortunatelytheantennaeplaytheirpartequallywellonahostofoccasionswhentherearenovaultstoreverberate。Weknownothingandareperhapsdestinednevertoknowanythingoftherealvalueoftheantennalsense，towhichwehavenothinganalogous；but，thoughitisimpossibleforustosaywhatitdoesperceive，weareatleastabletorecognizetosomeextentwhatitdoesnotperceiveand，inparticular，todenyitthefacultyofsmell。

Asamatteroffact，Inotice，withextremesurprise，thatthegreatmajorityofthecellsvisitedbytheLeucopsis’probedonotcontaintheonethingwhichtheinsectisseeking，namely，theyounglarvaoftheMason-beeenclosedinitscocoon。TheircontentsconsistoftherefusesooftenmetwithinoldChalicodoma-nests：liquidhoneyleftunemployed，becausetheegghasperished；spoiltprovisions，sometimesmildewed，orsometimesatarrymass；adeadlarva，stiffenedintoabrowncylinder；theshrivelledcorpseofaperfectinsect，whichlackedthestrengthtoeffectitsdeliverance；dustandrubbishwhichhascomefromtheexit-windowafterwardsclosedupbytheoutercoatingofplaster。Theodoriferouseffluviathatcanemanatefromtheserelicscertainlypossessverydiversecharacters。Asenseofsmellwithanysubtletyatallwouldnotbedeceivedbythisstuff，sour，’high，’mustyortarryasthecasemaybe；eachcompartment，accordingtoitscontents，hasaspecialaroma，whichwemightormightnotbeabletoperceive；andthisaromamostcertainlybearsnoresemblancetothatwhichwemayassumethemuch-desiredfreshlarvatopossess。IfneverthelesstheLeucopsisdoesnotdistinguishbetweenthesevariouscellsanddrivestheprobeintoallofthemindifferently，isthisnotanevidentproofthatsmellisnoguidewhatevertoherinhersearch？Otherconsiderations，whenIwastreatingoftheHairyAmmophila，enabledmetoassertthattheantennaehavenoolfactorypowers。To-day，thefrequentmistakesoftheLeucopsis，whoseantennaeareneverthelessconstantlyexploringthesurface，makethisconclusionabsolutelycertain。

Theperforatorofclaynestshas，soitseemstome，deliveredusfromanoldphysiologicalfallacy。Shewoulddeservestudying，iffornootherresultthanthis；butherinterestisfarfrombeingexhausted。

Letuslookatherfromanotherpointofview，whosefullimportancewillnotbeapparentuntiltheend；letusspeakofsomethingwhichI

wasveryfarfromsuspectingwhenIwassoassiduouslywatchingthenestsofmyMason-bees。

ThesamecellcanreceivetheLeucopsis’probeanumberoftimes，atintervalsofseveraldays。IhavesaidhowIusedtomarkinblacktheexactplaceatwhichthelaying-implementhadenteredandhowIwrotethedateoftheoperationbesideit。Well，atmanyofthesealreadyvisitedspots，concerningwhichIpossessedthemostauthenticdocuments，Isawtheinsectreturnasecond，athirdandevenafourthtime，eitheronthesamedayorsomewhileafter，anddriveitsinoculating-threadinagain，atpreciselythesameplace，asthoughnothinghadhappened。Wasitthesameindividualrepeatingheroperationinacellwhichshehadvisitedbeforebutforgotten，ordifferentindividualscomingoneaftertheothertolayanegginacompartmentthoughttobeunoccupied？Icannotsay，havingneglectedtomarktheoperators，forfearofdisturbingthem。

Asthereisnothing，exceptthemarkofmypencil，amarkdevoidofmeaningtotheinsect，toindicatethattheaugerhasalreadybeenatworkthere，itmayeasilyhappenthatthesameoperator，findingunderherfeetaspotalreadyexploitedbyherselfbuteffacedfromhermemory，repeatsthethrustofhertoolinacompartmentwhichshebelievesherselftobediscoveringforthefirsttime。Howeverretentiveitsmemoryforplacesmaybe，wecannotadmitthattheinsectremembersforweeksonend，aswellaspointbypoint，thetopographyofanestcoveringasurfaceofsomesquareyards。Itsrecollections，ifithaveany，serveitbadly；theoutwardappearancegivesitnoinformation；anditsdrillenterswhereveritmayhappentodiscoveracell，atpointsthathavealreadyperhapsbeenpiercedseveraltimesover。

Itmayalsohappen——andthisappearstomethemostfrequentcase——

thatoneexploiterofacellissucceededbyasecond，athird，afourthandothersstill，allfiredwiththenewcomer’szealbecausetheirpredecessorshaveleftnotraceoftheirpassage。Inonewayoranother，thesamecellisexposedtomanifoldlayings，thoughitscontents，theChalicodoma-grub，beonlythebarerationofasingleLeucopsis-grub。

Thesereiteratedboringsarenotatallrare：Inotedascoreofthemonmytiles；and，inthecaseofsomecells，theoperationwasrepeatedbeforemyeyesasoftenasfourtimes。Nothingtellsusthatthisnumberwasnotexceededinmyabsence。ThelittlethatIobservedpreventsmefromfixinganylimit。Andnowamomentousquestionarises：istheeggreallylaideachtimethattheprobeentersacell？

Icanseenottheslightestexcuseforsupposingthecontrary。Theovipositor，becauseofitshornynature，canhavebutaverydullsenseoftouch。Theinsectisapprisedofthecontentsofthecellonlybytheendofthatlonghorse-hair，anotverytrustworthywitness，Ishouldimagine。Theabsenceofresistancetellsitthatithasreachedanemptyspace；andthisisprobablytheonlyinformationthattheinsensibleimplementcansupply。Thedrillboringthroughtherockcannottellthemineranythingaboutthecontentsofthecavernwhichithasentered；andthecasemustbethesamewiththerigidfilamentoftheLeucopses。

Nowthatthethreadhasreacheditsgoal，whatdoesthecellcontain？

Mildewedhoney，dustandrubbish，ashrivelledlarva，oralarvaingoodcondition？Aboveall，doesitalreadycontainanegg？Thislastquestioncallsforadefiniteanswer，butasamatteroffactitisimpossiblefortheinsecttolearnanythingfromahorse-haironthatmostdelicatematter，thepresenceorabsenceofanegg，amereatomofathing，inthatvastapartment。Evenadmittingsomesenseoftouchattheendofthedrill，oneinsuperabledifficultywouldalwaysremain：thatoffindingtheexactspotwherethetinyspeckliesinthosespaciousandmysteriousregions。Igosofarastobelievethattheovipositortellstheinsectnothing，oratanyrateverylittle，oftheinsideofthecell，whetherpropitiousornottothedevelopmentofthegerm。Perhapseachthrustoftheinstrument，providedthatitmeetswithnoresistancefromsolidmatter，laystheegg，towhoselottherefallsatonetimegood，wholesomefood，atanothermererefuse。

Theseanomaliescallformoreconclusiveproofsthantheroughdeductionsdrawnfromthenatureofthehornyovipositor。WemustascertaininadirectfashionwhetherthecellintowhichtheaugerhasbeendrivenseveraltimesoveractuallycontainsseveraloccupantsinadditiontothelarvaoftheMason-bee。WhentheLeucopseshadfinishedtheirborings，Iwaitedafewdayslongersoastogivetheyounggrubstimetodevelopalittle，whichwouldmakemyexaminationeasier。Ithenmovedthetilestothetableinmystudy，inordertoinvestigatetheirsecretswiththemostscrupulouscare。AndheresuchadisappointmentasIhaverarelyknownawaitedme。ThecellswhichI

hadseen，actuallyseen，withmyowneyes，piercedbytheprobetwoorthreeorevenfourtimes，containedbutoneLeucopsis-grub，onealone，eatingawayatitsChalicodoma。Others，whichhadalsobeenrepeatedlyprobed，containedspoiltremnants，butneveraLeucopsis。Oholypatience，givemethecouragetobeginagain！Dispelthedarknessanddelivermefromdoubt！

Ibeginagain。TheLeucopsis-grubisfamiliartome；Icanrecognizeit，withoutthepossibilityofamistake，inthenestsofboththeChalicodomaofthePebblesandtheChalicodomaoftheSheds。Allthroughthewinter，Irushabout，gettingmynestsfromtheroofsofoldshedsandthepebblesofthewaste-lands；Istuffmypocketswiththem，fillmybox，loadFavier’sknapsack；Icollectenoughtolitterallthetablesinmystudy；and，whenitistoocoldoutofdoors，whenthebitingmistralblows，Itearopenthefinesilkofthecocoonstodiscovertheinhabitant。MostofthemcontaintheMasonintheperfectstate；othersgivemethelarvaoftheAnthrax；others——

verynumerous，these——givemethelarvaoftheLeucopsis。Andthislastisalone，alwaysalone，invariablyalone。Thewholethingisutterlyincomprehensiblewhenoneknows，asIknow，howmanytimestheprobeenteredthosecells。

Myperplexityonlyincreaseswhen，onthereturnofsummer，IwitnessforthesecondtimetheLeucopsis’repeatedoperationsonthesamecellsandforthesecondtimefindasinglelarvainthecompartmentswhichhavebeenboredseveraltimesover。ShallIthenbeforcedtoacceptthattheaugerisabletorecognizethecellsalreadycontaininganeggandthatitthenceforthrefrainsfromlayingthere？

MustIadmitanextraordinarysenseoftouchinthatbitofhorse-

hair，orevenbetter，asortofdivinationwhichdeclareswheretheegglieswithouthavingtotouchit？ButIamraving！Thereiscertainlysomethingthatescapesme；andtheobscurityoftheproblemissimplyduetomyincompleteinformation。Opatience，supremevirtueoftheobserver，cometomyaidoncemore！Imustbeginalloveragainforthethirdtime。

Untilnow，myinvestigationshavebeenmadesometimeafterthelaying，ataperiodwhenthelarvaisatleastfairlydeveloped。Whoknows？Somethingperhapshappens，attheverycommencementofinfancy，thatmaymisleadmeafterwards。ImustapplytotheeggitselfifI

wouldlearnthesecretwhichthegrubwillnotreveal。IthereforeresumemyobservationsinthefirstfortnightofJuly，whentheLeucopsesarebeginningtovisitbusilybothMason-bee’snests。Thepebblesinthewaste-landssupplymewithplentyofbuildingsoftheChalicodomaoftheWalls；thebyresscatteredhereandthereinthefieldsgiveme，undertheirdilapidatedroofs，infragmentsbrokenoffwiththechisel，theedificesoftheChalicodomaoftheSheds。Iamanxiousnottocompletethedestructionofmyhomehives，alreadysosorelytriedbymyexperiments；theyhavetaughtmemuchandcanteachmemore。Aliencolonies，pickedupmoreorlesseverywhere，providemewithmybooty。Withmylensinonehandandmyforcepsintheother，I

gothroughmycollectiononthesameday，withtheprudenceandcarewhichonlythelaboratory-tablepermits。Theresultsatfirstfallfarshortofmyexpectations。IseenothingthatIhavenotseenbefore。I

makefreshexpeditions，afterafewdays’interval；Ibringbackfreshloadsoflumpsofmortar，untilatlastfortunesmilesuponme。

Reasonwasnotatfault。Eachthrustmeansthelayingofaneggwhentheprobereachesthecell。HereisacocoonoftheMason-beeofthePebbleswithaneggsidebysidewiththeChalicodoma-grub。Butwhatacuriousegg！Neverhavemyeyesbeheldthelike；andthenisitreallytheeggoftheLeucopsis？Greatwasmyapprehension。ButIbreathedagainwhenIfound，acoupleofweekslater，thattheegghadbecomethelarvawithwhichIwasfamiliar。ThosecocoonswithasingleeggareasnumerousasIcanwish；theyexceedmywishes：mylittleglassreceptaclesaretoofewtoholdthem。

Andhereareothers，morepreciousonesstill，withmanifoldlayings。

Ifindplentywithtwoeggs；Ifindsomewiththreeorfour；thebest-

colonisedoffermeasmanyasfive。And，tocrownmydelight，thejoyoftheseekertowhomsuccesscomesatthelastmoment，whenheisonthevergeofdespair，hereagain，dulyfurnishedwithanegg，isasterilecocoon，thatistosay，onecontainingonlyashrivelledanddecayinglarva。Allmysuspicionsareconfirmed，downtothemostinconsequent：theegghousedwithamassofputrefaction。

ThenestsoftheMason-beeoftheWallsarethemoreregularinstructureandareeasiertoexamine，becausetheirbaseiswideopenonceitisseparatedfromthesupportingpebble；anditwasthesewhichsuppliedmewithbyfarthegreaterpartofmyinformation。

ThoseoftheMason-beeoftheShedshavetobechippedawaywithahammerbeforeonecaninspecttheircells，whichareheapedupanyhow；

andtheydonotlendthemselvesanythinglikesowelltodelicateinvestigations，astheysufferbothfromtheshockandtheill-

treatment。

Andnowthethingisdone：itremainscertainthattheLeucopsis’

layingisexposedtoveryexceptionaldangers。Shecanentrusttheeggtosterilecells，withoutprovisionsfittouse；shecanestablishseveralinthesamecell，thoughthiscellcontainsnourishmentforoneonly。Whethertheyproceedfromasingleindividualreturningseveraltimes，byinadvertence，tothesameplace，oraretheworkofdifferentindividualsunawareofthepreviousborings，thosemultiplelayingsareveryfrequent，almostasmuchsoasthenormallayings。

ThelargestwhichIhavenoticedconsistedoffiveeggs，butwehavenoauthorityforlookinguponthisnumberasanoutsidelimit。Whocouldsay，whentheperforatorsarenumerous，towhatlengthsthisaccumulationcango？Iwillsetforthonsomefutureoccasionhowtherationofoneeggremainsinrealitytherationofoneegg，despitethemultiplicityofbanqueters。

Iwillendbydescribingtheegg，whichisawhite，opaqueobject，shapedlikeamuch-elongatedoval。Oneoftheendsislengthenedoutintoaneckorpedicle，whichisaslongastheeggproper。Thisneckissomewhatwrinkled，sinuousandasaruleconsiderablycurved。Thewholethingisnotatallunlikecertaingourdswithanelongatedpaunchandasnake-likeneck。Thetotallength，pedicleandall，isabout3millimetres。（Aboutone-eighthofaninch。——Translator’sNote。）Itisneedlesstosay，afterrecognizingthegrub’smanneroffeeding，thatthiseggisnotlaidinsidethefosteringlarva。Yet，beforeIknewthehabitsoftheLeucopsis，IwouldreadilyhavebelievedthateveryHymenopteronarmedwithalongprobeinsertshereggsintothevictim’ssides，astheIchneumon-fliesdototheCaterpillars。Imentionthisforthebenefitofanywhomaybeunderthesameerroneousimpression。

TheLeucopsis’eggisnotevenlaidupontheMason-bee’slarva；itishungbyitsbentpedicletothefibrouswallofthecocoon。WhenIgotoworkverydelicately，soasnottodisturbthearrangementinknockingthenestoffitssupport，andthenextractandopenthecocoon，Iseetheeggswingingfromthesilkenvault。Butittakesverylittletomakeitfall。Andso，mostoften，eventhoughitbemerelytheeffectoftheshocksustainedwhenthenestisremovedfromitspebble，Ifindtheeggdetachedfromitssuspension-pointandlyingbesidethelarva，towhichitneveradheresinanycircumstances。TheLeucopsis’probedoesnotpenetratebeyondthecocoontraversed；andtheeggremainsfastenedtotheceiling，inthecrookofsomesilkythread，bymeansofitshookedpedicle。

INDEX。

AmazonAnt（seeRedAnt）。

Ammophila。

Ammophilahirsuta（seeHairyAmmophila）。

Ant（seealsoBlackAnt，RedAnt）。

Anthidium（seealsoCotton-bee，DiademAnthidium）。

Anthophora（seealsoHairy-footedAnthophora）。

Anthrax（seealsoAnthraxsinuata）。

Anthraxsinuata。

Anthrenus。

Ape。

Aphis。

Baboon。

Bastien。

Bee。

Bembex（seealsoBembexrostrata）。

Bembexrostrata。

BlackAnt。

Blanchard，Emile。

BlueOsmia。

Bombylius。

Bumble-bee。

Butterfly。

Cabbage-caterpillar。

Cagliostro。

Carrier-pigeon。

CastelnaudelaPorte，FrancisComtede。

Cat。

Caterpillar（seealsoCabbage-caterpillar，GreyWorm，ProcessionaryCaterpillar，Spurge-caterpillar）。

Cerceris（seealsoGreatCerceris）。

Cerceristuberculata（seeGreatCerceris）。

Cetonia。

Chalcis。

Chalicodoma（seeMason-bee）。

Chalicodomamuraria（seeMason-beeoftheWalls）。

Chalicodomapyrenaica，C。pyrrhopeza，C。rufitarsis，C。sicula（seeMason-beeoftheSheds）。

Chalicodomarufescens（seeMason-beeoftheShrubs）。

Chat。

Chrysis（seealsoParnopescarnea，Stilbumcalens）。

Clerus。

Coelyoxis。

CommonLizard。

CommonWasp。

CorneliusNepos。

Cotton-bee。

Cricket。

Crioceris。

Crocisa。

Darwin，CharlesRobert。

Darwin，Erasmus。

DiademAnthidium。

Dioxys。

Dioxyscincta（seeDioxys）。

Dog。

Dufour，JeanMarieLeon。

DuhamelduMonceau，HenriLouis。

Duruy，JeanVictor。

Euclid。

EumenesAmadei。

EyedLizard。

Fabre，Mlle。Aglae，theauthor’sdaughter。

Fabre，Mlle。Antonia，theauthor’sdaughter。

Fabre，Mlle。Claire，theauthor’sdaughter。

Fabre，Mlle。Lucie，theauthor’sgranddaughter。

Favier，theauthor’sfactotum。

Fly。

Franklin，Benjamin。

Gad-fly。

Gnat。

GoldenWasp（seeChrysis）。

Gold-fish。

Grasshopper（seeGreenGrasshopper）。

GreatCerceris。

GreenGrasshopper。

GreyLizard。

GreyWorm。

HairyAmmophila。

Hairy-footedAnthophora。

Halictus。

Hive-bee。

Huber，Francois。

Ichneumon-fly。

Lacordaire，JeanTheodore。

Lamb。

Lark。

Latreille’sOsmia。

Leaf-cutter（seeMegachile）。

Leucopsis。

Leucopsisdorsigera。

Leucopsisgigas（seeLeucopsis）。

LeVaillant，Francois。

Lion。

Lizard（seeCommonLizard，EyedLizard，GreyLizard）。

Locust。

Loriol，Dr。

Loriol，Mme。

Lucas，PierreHippolyte。

MacmillanandCo。，Ltd。

"MademoiselleMori"，authorof。

Mantis（seePrayingMantis）。

Martin。

Mason-bee（seealsothevarietiesbelow）。

Mason-beeofthePebbles（seeMason-beeoftheWalls）。

Mason-beeoftheSheds。

Mason-beeoftheShrubs。

Mason-beeoftheWalls。

Megachile。

Megachileapicalis（seeMegachile）。

Melecta。

Meloe（seeOil-beetle）。

Mesmer。

Miall，Bernard。

Monodontomeruscupreus。

Morawitz’Osmia。

Moth。

Mutilla。

NapoleonIII。，theEmperor。

Newton，SirIsaac。

Oil-beetle。

Oryctes。

Osmia（seealsothevarietiesbelow）。

Osmiacyanea（seeBlueOsmia）。

Osmiacyanoxantha。

OsmiaLatreillii（seeLatreille’sOsmia）。

OsmiaMorawitzi（seeMorawitz’Osmia）。

Osmiatricornis（seeThree-hornedOsmia）。

Osmiatridentata（seeThree-prongedOsmia）。

Ox。

Parnopescarnea。

Perez，ProfessorJean。

Philanthusapivorus。

Polyergusrufescens（seeRedAnt）。

Pompilus。

PrayingMantis。

ProcessionaryCaterpillar。

Psithyrus。

Ptinus。

Rabbit。

Reaumur，ReneAntoineFerchaultde。

RedAnt。

Republican（seeSocialWeaver-bird）。

Resin-bee。

Rhinoceros-beetle（seeOryctes）。

RingedCalicurgus（seePompilus）。

Rodwell，MissFrances。

Rose-chafer（seeCetonia）。

SacredBeetle。

Sapygapunctata（seeSpottedSapyga）。

Saw-fly。

Scolia。

Sheep。

SicilianMason-bee（seeMason-beeoftheSheds）。

SocialBee（seeHive-bee）。

SocialWasp（seeCommonWasp）。

SocialWeaver-bird。

Sphex（seealsoYellow-wingedSphex。）

Spider。

SpottedSapyga。

Spurge-caterpillar。

Stelis（seealsoStelisnasuta）。

Stelisnasuta。

Stilbumcalens。

Swallow。

Swift。

Tachina。

Tachytes。

TeixeiradeMattos，Alexander。

Three-hornedOsmia。

Three-prongedOsmia。

Tiger。

Toussenel，Alphonse。

Tripoxylon。

Turnip-caterpillar，Turnip-moth（seeGreyWorm）。

Wagtail（seeWhiteWagtail）。

WartedCerceris（seeGreatCerceris）。

Wasp（seealsoCommonWasp）。

Weevil。

WhiteWagtail。

WildBoar。

Wolf。

Yellow-wingedSphex。