TRANSLATOR’SNOTE
ThisvolumecontainsalltheessaysontheChalicodomae，orMason-beesproper，whichsogreatlyenhancetheinterestoftheearlyvolumesofthe"Souvenirsentomologiques。"Ihavealsoincludedanessayontheauthor’sCatsandoneonRedAnts——theonlystudyofAntscomprisedinthe"Souvenirs"——bothofwhichbearuponthesenseofdirectionpossessedbytheBees。ThosetreatingoftheOsmiae，whoarealsoMason-Bees，althoughnotusuallyknownbythatname，willbefoundinaseparatevolume，whichIhavecalled"Bramble-beesandOthers"andinwhichIhavecollectedallthatFabrehaswrittenonsuchotherWildBeesastheMegachiles，orLeaf-cutters，theCotton-bees，theResin-beesandtheHalicti。
Theessaysentitled"TheMason-bees，Experiments"and"ExchangingtheNests"formthelastthreechaptersof"InsectLife"，translatedbytheauthorof"MademoiselleMori"andpublishedbyMessrs。Macmillan，who，withthegreatestcourtesyandkindnesshavegivenmetheirpermissiontoincludeanewtranslationofthesechaptersinthepresentvolume。Theydidsowithoutfeeorconsiderationofanykind，merelyonmyrepresentationthatitwouldbeagreatpityifthisuniformeditionofFabre’sWorksshouldberenderedincompletebecausecertainessaysformedpartofvolumesofextractspreviouslypublishedinthiscountry。Theirgenerosityisalmostunparalleledinmyexperience；andIwishtothankthempubliclyforitinthenameoftheauthor，oftheFrenchpublishersandoftheEnglishandAmericanpublishers，aswellasinmyown。
SomeofthechaptershaveappearedinEnglandinthe"DailyMail"，the"FortnightlyReview"andthe"EnglishReview"；someinAmericain"GoodHousekeeping"andthe"Youth’sCompanion"；othersnowseethelightinEnglishforthefirsttime。
IhaveagaintothankMissFrancesRodwellfortheinvaluableassistancewhichshehasgivenmeintheworkoftranslationandinthelessinterestingandmoretediousdepartmentofresearch。
ALEXANDERTEIXEIRADEMATTOS。
Chelsea，1914。
CONTENTS。
TRANSLATOR’SNOTE。
CHAPTER1。THEMASON-BEES。
CHAPTER2。EXPERIMENTS。
CHAPTER3。EXCHANGINGTHENESTS。
CHAPTER4。MOREENQUIRIESINTOMASON-BEES。
CHAPTER5。THESTORYOFMYCATS。
CHAPTER6。THEREDANTS。
CHAPTER7。SOMEREFLECTIONSUPONINSECTPSYCHOLOGY。
CHAPTER8。PARASITES。
CHAPTER9。THETHEORYOFPARASITISM。
CHAPTER10。THETRIBULATIONSOFTHEMASON-BEE。
CHAPTER11。THELEUCOPSES。
INDEX。
CHAPTER1。THEMASON-BEES。
Reaumur（ReneAntoineFerchaultdeReaumur（1683-1757），inventoroftheReaumurthermometerandauthorof"Memoirespourserviral’histoirenaturelledesinsectes。"——Translator’sNote。）devotedoneofhispaperstothestoryoftheChalicodomaoftheWalls，whomhecallstheMason-bee。Iproposetogoonwiththestory，tocompleteitandespeciallytoconsideritfromapointofviewwhollyneglectedbythateminentobserver。And，firstofall，IamtemptedtotellhowI
madethisBee’sacquaintance。
ItwaswhenIfirstbegantoteach，about1843。IhadleftthenormalschoolatVauclusesomemonthsbefore，withmydiplomaandallthesimpleenthusiasmofmyeighteenyears，andhadbeensenttoCarpentras，theretomanagetheprimaryschoolattachedtothecollege。Itwasastrangeschool，uponmyword，notwithstandingitspompoustitleof’upper’；asortofhugecellaroozingwiththeperpetualdampengenderedbyawellbackingonitinthestreetoutside。Forlighttherewastheopendoor，whentheweatherpermitted，andanarrowprison-window，withironbarsandlozengepanessetinlead。Bywayofbenchestherewasaplankfastenedtothewallallroundtheroom，whileinthemiddlewasachairbereftofitsstraw，ablack-boardandastickofchalk。
Morningandevening，atthesoundofthebell，therecamerushinginsomefiftyyoungimpswho，havingshownthemselveshopelessdunceswiththeirCorneliusNepos，hadbeenrelegated，inthephraseoftheday，to’afewgoodyearsofFrench。’Thosewhohadfoundmensatoomuchforthemcametometogetasmatteringofgrammar。Childrenandstrappingladswerethere，mixeduptogether，atverydifferenteducationalstages，butallincorrigiblyagreedtoplaytricksuponthemaster，theboymasterwhowasnoolderthansomeofthem，orevenyounger。
TothelittleonesIgavetheirfirstlessonsinreading；theintermediateonesIshowedhowtheyshouldholdtheirpentowriteafewlinesofdictationontheirknees；tothebigonesIrevealedthesecretsoffractionsandeventhemysteriesofEuclid。Andtokeepthisrestlesscrowdinorder，togiveeachmindworkinaccordancewithitsstrength，tokeepattentionarousedandlastlytoexpeldullnessfromthegloomyroom，whosewallsdrippedmelancholyevenmorethandampness，myoneresourcewasmytongue，myoneweaponmystickofchalk。
Forthatmatter，therewasthesamecontemptintheotherclassesforallthatwasnotLatinorGreek。Oneinstancewillbeenoughtoshowhowthingsthenstoodwiththeteachingofphysics，thesciencewhichoccupiessolargeaplaceto-day。Theprincipalofthecollegewasafirst-rateman，theworthyAbbeX。，who，notcaringtodispensebeansandbaconhimself，hadleftthecommissariat-departmenttoarelativeandhadundertakentoteachtheboysphysics。
Letusattendoneofhislessons。Thesubjectisthebarometer。Theestablishmenthappenstopossessone，anoldapparatus，coveredwithdust，hangingonthewallbeyondthereachofprofanehandsandbearingonitsface，inlargeletters，thewordsstormy，rain，fair。
’Thebarometer，’saysthegoodabbe，addressinghispupils，whom，inpatriarchalfashion，hecallsbytheirChristiannames，’thebarometertellsusiftheweatherwillbegoodorbad。Youseethewordswrittenontheface——stormy，rain——doyousee，Bastien？’
’Yes，Isee，’saysBastien，themostmischievousofthelot。
Hehasbeenlookingthroughhisbookandknowsmoreaboutthebarometerthanhisteacherdoes。
’Itconsists，’theabbecontinues，’ofabentglasstubefilledwithmercury，whichrisesandfallsaccordingtotheweather。Theshorterlegofthistubeisopen；theother……theother……well，we’llsee。
Here，Bastien，you’rethetallest，getuponthechairandjustfeelwithyourfingerifthelonglegisopenorclosed。Ican’trememberforcertain。’
Bastienclimbsonthechair，standsashighashecanontip-toeandfumbleswithhisfingeratthetopofthelongcolumn。Then，withadiscreetsmilespreadingunderthesilkyhairsofhisdawningmoustache：
’Yes，’hesays，’that’sit。Thelonglegisopenatthetop。There，I
canfeelthehole。’
AndBastien，toconfirmhismendaciousstatement，keepswrigglinghisforefingeratthetopofthetube，whilehisfellow-conspiratorssuppresstheirenjoymentasbesttheycan。
’Thatwilldo，’saystheunconsciousabbe。’Youcangetdown，Bastien。
Takeanoteofit，boys：thelongerlegofthebarometerisopen；takeanoteofit。It’sathingyoumightforget；Ihadforgottenitmyself。’
Thuswasphysicstaught。Thingsimproved，however：amastercameandcametostay，onewhoknewthatthelonglegofthebarometerisclosed。Imyselfsecuredtablesonwhichmypupilswereabletowriteinsteadofscribblingontheirknees；and，asmyclasswasdailyincreasinginnumbers，itendedbybeingdividedintotwo。AssoonasIhadanassistanttolookaftertheyoungerboys，thingsassumedadifferentaspect。
Amongthesubjectstaught，oneinparticularappealedtobothmastersandpupils。Thiswasopen-airgeometry，practicalsurveying。Thecollegehadnoneofthenecessaryoutfit；but，withmyfatpay——sevenhundredfrancsayear，ifyouplease！——Icouldnothesitateovertheexpense。Asurveyor’schainandstakes，arrows，level，squareandcompasswereboughtwithmymoney。Amicroscopicgraphometer，notmuchlargerthanthepalmofone’shandandcostingperhapsfivefrancs，wasprovidedbytheestablishment。Therewasnotripodtoit；andI
hadonemade。Inshort，myequipmentwascomplete。
Andso，whenMaycame，onceeveryweekweleftthegloomyschool-roomforthefields。Itwasaregularholiday。Theboysdisputedforthehonourofcarryingthestakes，dividedintobundlesofthree；andmorethanoneshoulder，aswewalkedthroughthetown，feltthereflectedgloryofthoseeruditerods。Imyself——whyconcealthefact？——wasnotwithoutacertainsatisfactionasIpiouslycarriedthatmostdelicateandpreciousapparatus，thehistoricfive-francgraphometer。Thesceneofoperationswasanuntilled，flintyplain，aharmas，aswecallitinthedistrict。（Cf。"TheLifeoftheFly"，byJ。HenriFabre，translatedbyAlexanderTeixeiradeMattos：chapter1。——Translator’sNote。）Here，nocurtainofgreenhedgesorshrubspreventedmefromkeepinganeyeuponmystaff；here——anindispensablecondition——Ihadnottheirresistibletemptationoftheunripeapricotstofearformyscholars。Theplainstretchedfarandwide，coveredwithnothingbutfloweringthymeandroundedpebbles。Therewasamplescopeforeveryimaginablepolygon；trapezesandtrianglescouldbecombinedinallsortsofways。Theinaccessibledistanceshadampleelbow-room；andtherewasevenanoldruin，onceapigeon-house，thatlentitsperpendiculartothegraphometer’sperformances。
Well，fromtheveryfirstday，myattentionwasattractedbysomethingsuspicious。IfIsentoneoftheboystoplantastake，Iwouldseehimstopfrequentlyonhisway，benddown，standupagain，lookaboutandstooponcemore，neglectinghisstraightlineandhissignals。
Another，whowastoldtopickupthearrows，wouldforgettheironpinandtakeupapebbleinstead；andathirddeaftothemeasurementsofangles，wouldcrumbleaclodofearthbetweenhisfingers。Mostofthemwerecaughtlickingabitofstraw。Thepolygoncametoafullstop，thediagonalssuffered。Whatcouldthemysterybe？
Ienquired；andeverythingwasexplained。Abornsearcherandobserver，thescholarhadlongknownwhatthemasterhadnotyetheardof，namely，thattherewasabigblackBeewhomadeclaynestsonthepebblesintheharmas。Thesenestscontainedhoney；andmysurveyorsusedtoopenthemandemptythecellswithastraw。Thehoney，althoughratherstrong-flavoured，wasmostacceptable。Iacquiredatasteforitmyselfandjoinedthenest-hunters，puttingoffthepolygontilllater。ItwasthusthatIfirstsawReaumur’sMason-bee，knowingnothingofherhistoryandnothingofherhistorian。
ThemagnificentBeeherself，withherdark-violetwingsandblack-
velvetraiment，herrusticedificesonthesun-blisteredpebblesamidthethyme，herhoney，providingadiversionfromtheseveritiesofthecompassandthesquare，allmadeagreatimpressiononmymind；andI
wantedtoknowmorethanIhadlearntfromtheschoolboys，whichwasjusthowtorobthecellsoftheirhoneywithastraw。Asithappened，mybooksellerhadagorgeousworkoninsectsforsale。Itwascalled"Histoirenaturelledesanimauxarticules"，bydeCastelnau（FrancisComtedeCastelnaudelaPorte（1812-1880），thenaturalistandtraveller。CastelnauwasborninLondonanddiedatMelbourne。——
Translator’sNote。），E。Blanchard（EmileBlanchard（born1820），authorofvariousworksoninsects，Spiders，etc。——Translator’sNote。）andLucas（PierreHippolyteLucas（born1815），authorofworksonMothsandButterflies，Crustaceans，etc。——Translator’sNote。），andboastedamultitudeofmostattractiveillustrations；butthepriceofit，thepriceofit！Nomatter：wasnotmysplendidincomesupposedtocovereverything，foodforthemindaswellasfoodforthebody？AnythingextrathatIgavetotheoneIcouldsaveupontheother；amethodofbalancingpainfullyfamiliartothosewholooktosciencefortheirlivelihood。Thepurchasewaseffected。Thatdaymyprofessionalemolumentswereseverelystrained：Idevotedamonth’ssalarytotheacquisitionofthebook。Ihadtoresorttomiraclesofeconomyforsometimetocomebeforemakinguptheenormousdeficit。
Thebookwasdevoured；thereisnootherwordforit。Init，IlearntthenameofmyblackBee；Ireadforthefirsttimevariousdetailsofthehabitsofinsects；Ifound，surroundedinmyeyeswithasortofhalo，thereverednamesofReaumur，Huber（FrancoisHuber（1750-1831），theSwissnaturalist，authorof"Nouvellesobservationssurlesabeilles。"Heearlybecameblindfromexcessivestudyandconductedhisscientificworkthereafterwiththeaidofhiswife。——Translator’sNote。）andLeonDufour（JeanMarieLeonDufour（1780-1865），anarmysurgeonwhoservedwithdistinctioninseveralcampaigns，andsubsequentlypractisedasadoctorintheLandes，whereheattainedgreateminenceasanaturalist。FabreoftenreferstohimastheWizardoftheLandes。Cf。"TheLifeoftheSpider"，byJ。HenriFabre，translatedbyAlexanderTeixeiradeMattos：chapter1；and"TheLifeoftheFly"：chapter1。——Translator’sNote。）；and，whileIturnedoverthepagesforthehundredthtime，avoicewithinmeseemedtowhisper：
’Youalsoshallbeoftheircompany！’
Ah，fondillusions，whathascomeofyou？（Thepresentessayisoneoftheearliestinthe"SouvenirsEntomologiques。"——Translator’sNote。）
Butletusbanishtheserecollections，atoncesweetandsad，andspeakofthedoingsofourblackBee。Chalicodoma，meaningahouseofpebbles，concreteormortar，wouldbeamostsatisfactorytitle，wereitnotthatithasanoddsoundtoanyoneunfamiliarwithGreek。ThenameisgiventoBeeswhobuildtheircellswithmaterialssimilartothosewhichweemployforourowndwellings。Theworkoftheseinsectsismasonry；onlyitisturnedoutbyarusticmasonmoreusedtohardclaythantohewnstone。Reaumur，whoknewnothingofscientificclassification——afactwhichmakesmanyofhispapersverydifficulttounderstand——namedtheworkerafterherworkandcalledourbuildersindriedclayMason-bees，whichdescribesthemexactly。
Wehavetwooftheminourdistrict：theChalicodomaoftheWalls（Chalicodomamuraria），whosehistoryReaumurgivesusinamasterlyfashion；andtheSicilianChalicodoma（C。sicula）（Forreasonsthatwillbecomeapparentafterthereaderhaslearnttheirhabits，theauthoralsospeaksoftheMason-beeoftheWallsandtheSicilianMason-beeastheMason-beeofthePebblesandtheMason-beeoftheShedsrespectively。Cf。Chapter4footnote。——Translator’sNote。），whoisnotpeculiartothelandofEtna，ashernamemightsuggest，butisalsofoundinGreece，inAlgeriaandinthesouthofFrance，particularlyinthedepartmentofVaucluse，wheresheisoneofthecommonestBeestobeseeninthemonthofMay。Inthefirstspeciesthetwosexesaresounlikeincolouringthatanovice，surprisedatobservingthemcomeoutofthesamenest，wouldatfirsttakethemforstrangerstoeachother。Thefemaleisofasplendidvelvetyblack，withdark-violetwings。Inthemale，theblackvelvetisreplacedbyaratherbrightbrick-redfleece。Thesecondspecies，whichismuchsmaller，doesnotshowthiscontrastofcolour：thetwosexeswearthesamecostume，ageneralmixtureofbrown，redandgrey，whilethetipsofthewings，washedwithvioletonabronzedground，recall，butonlyfaintly，therichpurpleofthefirstspecies。Bothbegintheirlaboursatthesameperiod，intheearlypartofMay。
AsReaumurtellsus，theChalicodomaoftheWallsinthenorthernprovincesselectsawalldirectlyfacingthesunandonenotcoveredwithplaster，whichmightcomeoffandimperilthefutureofthecells。Sheconfidesherbuildingsonlytosolidfoundations，suchasbarestones。Ifindherequallyprudentinthesouth；but，forsomereasonwhichIdonotknow，sheheregenerallypreferssomeotherbasetothestoneofawall。Aroundedpebble，oftenhardlylargerthanone’sfist，oneofthosecobbleswithwhichthewatersoftheglacialperiodcoveredtheterracesoftheRhoneValley，formsthemostpopularsupport。TheextremeabundanceofthesesitesmighteasilyinfluencetheBee’schoice：allourlesselevateduplands，allourarid，thyme-cladgroundsarenothingbutwater-wornstonescementedwithredearth。Inthevalleys，theChalicodomahasalsothepebblesofthemountain-streamsatherdisposal。NearOrange，forinstance，herfavouritespotsarethealluviaoftheAygues，withtheircarpetsofsmoothpebblesnolongervisitedbythewaters。Lastly，ifacobblebewanting，theMason-beewillestablishhernestonanysortofstone，onamile-stoneoraboundary-wall。
TheSicilianChalicodomahasanevengreatervarietyofchoice。Hermostcherishedsiteisthelowersurfaceoftheprojectingtilesofaroof。Thereisnotacottageinthefields，howeversmall，butsheltershernestsundertheeaves。Here，eachspring，shesettlesinpopulouscolonies，whosemasonry，handeddownfromonegenerationtothenextandenlargedyearbyyear，endsbycoveringconsiderablesurfaces。Ihaveseensomeofthesenests，underthetilesofashed，spreadingoveranareaoffiveorsixsquareyards。Whenthecolonywashardatwork，thebusy，buzzingcrowdwasenoughtomakeonegiddy。TheundersideofabalconyalsopleasestheMason-bee，asdoestheembrasureofadisusedwindow，especiallyifitisclosedbyablindwhoseslatsallowherafreepassage。Butthesearepopularresorts，wherehundredsandthousandsofworkerslabour，eachforherself。Ifshebealone，whichhappensprettyoften，theSicilianMason-beeinstalsherselfinthefirstlittlenookhandy，providedthatitsuppliesasolidfoundationandwarmth。Asforthenatureofthisfoundation，shedoesnotseemtomind。Ihaveseenherbuildonthebarestone，onbricks，onthewoodofashutterandevenonthewindow-panesofashed。Onethingonlydoesnotsuither：theplasterofourhouses。Sheisasprudentasherkinswomanandwouldfeartheruinofhercells，ifsheentrustedthemtoasupportwhichmightpossiblyfall。
Lastly，forreasonswhichIamstillunabletoexplaintomyownsatisfaction，theSicilianMason-beeoftenchangesthepositionofherbuildingentirely，turningherheavyhouseofclay，whichwouldseemtorequirethesolidsupportofarock，intoanaerialdwelling。A
hedge-shrubofanykindwhatever——hawthorn，pomegranate，Christ’sthorn——providesherwithafoundation，usuallyashighasaman’shead。Theholm-oakandtheelmgiveheragreateraltitude。Shechoosesinthebushyclumpatwignothickerthanastraw；andonthisnarrowbasesheconstructsheredificewiththesamemortarthatshewouldemployunderabalconyortheledgeofaroof。Whenfinished，thenestisaballofearth，bisectedbythetwig。Itisthesizeofanapricotwhentheworkofasingleinsectandofone’sfistifseveralhavecollaborated；butthislattercaseisrare。
BothBeesusethesamematerials：calcareousclay，mingledwithalittlesandandkneadedintoapastewiththemason’sownsaliva。Dampplaces，whichwouldfacilitatethequarryingandreducetheexpenditureofsalivaformixingthemortar，arescornedbytheMason-
bees，whorefusefreshearthforbuildingevenasourownbuildersrefuseplasterandlimethathavelonglosttheirsetting-properties。
Thesematerials，whensoakedwithpuremoisture，wouldnotholdproperly。Whatiswantedisadrydust，whichgreedilyabsorbsthedisgorgedsalivaandformswiththelatter’salbuminouselementsasortofreadily-hardeningRomancement，somethinginshortresemblingthecementwhichweobtainwithquicklimeandwhiteofegg。
Themortar-quarrywhichtheSicilianMason-beepreferstoworkisafrequentedhighway，whosemetalofchalkyflints，crushedbythepassingwheels，hasbecomeasmoothsurface，likeacontinuousflagstone。Whethersettlingonatwiginahedgeorfixingherabodeundertheeavesofsomeruraldwelling，shealwaysgoesforherbuilding-materialstothenearestpathorroad，withoutallowingherselftobedistractedfromherbusinessbytheconstanttrafficofpeopleandcattle。YoushouldseetheactiveBeeatworkwhentheroadisdazzlingwhiteundertheraysofahotsun。Betweentheadjoiningfarm，whichisthebuilding-yard，andtheroad，inwhichthemortarisprepared，wehearthedeephumoftheBeesperpetuallycrossingoneanotherastheygotoandfro。Theairseemstraversedbyincessanttrailsofsmoke，sostraightandrapidistheworker’sflight。Thoseonthewaytothenestcarrytinypelletsofmortar，thesizeofsmallshot；thosewhoreturnatoncesettleonthedriestandhardestspots。
Theirwholebodyaquiver，theyscrapewiththetipsoftheirmandiblesandrakewiththeirfronttarsitoextractatomsofearthandgrainsofsand，which，rolledbetweentheirteeth，becomeimpregnatedwithsalivaandformasolidmass。Theworkispursuedsovigorouslythattheworkerletsherselfbecrushedunderthefeetofthepassers-byratherthanabandonhertask。
Ontheotherhand，theMason-beeoftheWalls，whoseekssolitude，farfromhumanhabitations，rarelyshowsherselfonthebeatenpaths，perhapsbecausethesearetoofarfromtheplaceswhereshebuilds。Solongasshecanfinddryearth，richinsmallgravel，nearthepebblechosenasthesiteofhernest，thatisallsheasks。
TheBeemayeitherbuildanentirelynewnestonasiteasyetunoccupied，orshemayusethecellsofanoldnest，afterrepairingthem。Letusconsidertheformercasefirst。Afterselectingherpebble，theMason-beeoftheWallsarriveswithalittleballofmortarinhermandiblesandlaysitinacircularpadonthesurfaceofthestone。Thefore-legsandaboveallthemandibles，whicharethemason’schieftools，workthematerial，whichiskeptplasticbythesalivaryfluidasthisisgraduallydisgorged。Inordertoconsolidatetheclay，angularbitsofgravel，thesizeofalentil，areinsertedseparately，butonlyontheoutside，intheasyetsoftmass。Thisisthefoundationofthestructure。Freshlayersfollow，untilthecellhasattainedthedesiredheightoftwoorthreecentimetres。（Three-
quartersofaninchtooneinch。——Translator’sNote。）
Man’smasonryisformedofstoneslaidoneabovetheotherandcementedtogetherwithlime。TheChalicodoma’sworkcanbearcomparisonwithours。Toeconomiselabourandmortar，theBeeemployscoarsematerials，bigpiecesofgravel，whichtoherrepresenthewnstones。Shechoosesthemcarefullyonebyone，picksoutthehardestbits，generallywithcornerswhich，fittingoneintotheother，givemutualsupportandcontributetothesolidityofthewhole。Layersofmortar，sparinglyapplied，holdthemtogether。Theoutsideofthecellthusassumestheappearanceofapieceofrusticarchitecture，inwhichthestonesprojectwiththeirnaturalirregularities；buttheinside，whichrequiresamoreevensurfaceinordernottohurtthelarva’stenderskin，iscoveredwithacoatofpuremortar。Thisinnerwhitewash，however，isputonwithoutanyattemptatart，indeedonemightsaythatitisladledoningreatsplashes；andthegrubtakescare，afterfinishingitsmessofhoney，tomakeitselfacocoonandhangtherudewallsofitsabodewithsilk。Ontheotherhand，theAnthophoraeandtheHalicti，twospeciesofWildBeeswhosegrubsweavenococoon，delicatelyglazetheinsideoftheirearthencellsandgivethemtheglossofpolishedivory。
Thestructure，whoseaxisisnearlyalwaysverticalandwhoseorificefacesupwardssoasnottoletthehoneyescape，variesalittleinshapeaccordingtothesupportingbase。Whensetonahorizontalsurface，itriseslikealittleovaltower；whenfixedagainstanuprightorslantingsurface，itresemblesthehalfofathimbledividedfromtoptobottom。Inthiscase，thesupportitself，thepebble，completestheouterwall。
Whenthecellisfinished，theBeeatoncesetstoworktovictualit。
Theflowersroundabout，especiallythoseoftheyellowbroom（Genistascoparia），whichinMaydeckthepebblybordersofthemountainstreamswithgold，supplyherwithsugaryliquidandpollen。Shecomeswithhercropswollenwithhoneyandherbellyyellowedunderneathwithpollendust。Shedivesheadfirstintothecell；andforafewmomentsyouseesomespasmodicjerkswhichshowthatsheisdisgorgingthehoney-syrup。Afteremptyinghercrop，shecomesoutofthecell，onlytogoinagainatonce，butthistimebackwards。TheBeenowbrushesthelowersideofherabdomenwithhertwohind-legsandridsherselfofherloadofpollen。Oncemoreshecomesoutandoncemoregoesinheadfirst。Itisaquestionofstirringthematerials，withhermandiblesforaspoon，andmakingthewholeintoahomogeneousmixture。Thismixing-operationisnotrepeatedaftereveryjourney：ittakesplaceonlyatlongintervals，whenaconsiderablequantityofmaterialhasbeenaccumulated。
Thevictuallingiscompletewhenthecellishalffull。Aneggmustnowbelaidonthetopofthepasteandthehousemustbeclosed。Allthisisdonewithoutdelay。Thecoverconsistsofalidofpuremortar，whichtheBeebuildsbydegrees，workingfromthecircumferencetothecentre。Twodaysatmostappearedtometobeenoughforeverything，providedthatnobadweather——rainormerelyclouds——cametointerruptthelabour。Thenasecondcellisbuilt，backingonthefirstandprovisionedinthesamemanner。Athird，afourth，andsoonfollow，eachsuppliedwithhoneyandaneggandclosedbeforethefoundationsofthenextarelaid。Eachtaskbeguniscontinueduntilitisquitefinished；theBeenevercommencesanewcelluntilthefourprocessesneededfortheconstructionofitspredecessorarecompleted：thebuilding，thevictualling，thelayingoftheeggandtheclosingofthecell。
AstheMason-beeoftheWallsalwaysworksbyherselfonthepebblewhichshehaschosenandevenshowsherselfveryjealousofhersitewhenherneighboursalightuponit，thenumberofcellssetbacktobackupononepebbleisnotlarge，usuallyvaryingbetweensixandten。DosomeeightgrubsrepresenttheBee’swholefamily？Ordoessheafterwardsgoandestablishamorenumerousprogenyonotherboulders？
Thesurfaceofthesamestoneisspaciousenoughtoprovideasupportforfurthercellsifthenumberofeggscalledforthem；theBeecouldbuildthereverycomfortably，withouthuntingforanothersite，withoutleavingthepebbletowhichsheisattachedbyhabitandlongacquaintance。Itseemstometherefore，exceedinglyprobablethatthefamilyisasmalloneandthatitisallinstalledontheonestone，atanyratewhentheMason-beeisbuildinganewhome。
Thesixtotencellscomposingtheclusterarecertainlyasoliddwelling，withtheirrusticgravelcovering；butthethicknessoftheirwallsandlids，twomillimetres（。078inch——Translator’sNote。）
atmost，seemshardlysufficienttoprotectthegrubsagainsttheinclemenciesoftheweather。Setonitspebbleintheopenair，withoutanysortofshelter，thenestwillhavetoundergotheheatofsummer，whichwillturneachcellintoastiflingfurnace，followedbytheautumnrains，whichwillslowlywearawaythestonework，andbythewinterfrosts，whichwillcrumblewhattherainshaverespected。
Howeverhardthecementmaybe，canitpossiblyresistalltheseagentsofdestruction？And，evenifitdoesresist，willnotthegrubs，shelteredbytoothinawall，havetosufferfromexcessofheatinsummerandofcoldinwinter？
Withoutarguingallthisout，theBeeneverthelessactswisely。Whenallthecellsarefinished，shebuildsathickcoveroverthegroup，formedofamaterial，impermeabletowaterandabadconductorofheat，whichactsasaprotectionatthesametimeagainstdamp，heatandcold。Thismaterialistheusualmortar，madeofearthmixedwithsaliva，butonthisoccasionwithnosmallstonesinit。TheBeeappliesitpelletbypellet，trowelfulbytrowelful，tothedepthofacentimetre（。39inch——Translator’sNote。）overtheclusterofcells，whichdisappearentirelyundertheclaycovering。Whenthisisdone，thenesthastheshapeofaroughdome，equalinsizetohalfanorange。Onewouldtakeitforaroundlumpofmudwhichhadbeenthrownandhalfcrushedagainstastoneandhadthendriedwhereitwas。Nothingoutsidebetraysthecontents，nosemblanceofcells，nosemblanceofwork。Totheinexperiencedeye，itisachancesplashofmudandnothingmore。
Thisoutercoveringdriesasquicklyasdoourhydrauliccements；andthenestisnowalmostashardasastone。Ittakesaknifewithastrongbladetobreakopentheedifice。AndIwouldadd，inconclusion，that，underitsfinalform，thenestinnowayrecallstheoriginalwork，somuchsothatonewouldimaginethecellsofthestart，thoseelegantturretscoveredwithstucco-work，andthedomeofthefinish，lookinglikeamerelumpofmud，tobetheproductoftwodifferentspecies。Butscrapeawaythecrustofcementandweshalleasilyrecognizethecellsbelowandtheirlayersoftinypebbles。
Insteadofbuildingabrand-newnest，onahithertounoccupiedboulder，theMason-beeoftheWallsisalwaysgladtomakeuseoftheoldnestswhichhavelastedthroughtheyearwithoutsufferinganydamageworthmentioning。Themortardomehasremainedverymuchwhatitwasatthebeginning，thankstothesolidityofthemasonry，onlyitisperforatedwithanumberofroundholes，correspondingwiththechambers，thecellsinhabitedbypastgenerationsoflarvae。Dwellingssuchasthese，whichneedonlyalittlerepairtoputthemingoodcondition，saveagreatdealoftimeandtrouble；andtheMason-beeslookoutforthemanddonotdecidetobuildnewnestsexceptwhentheoldonesarewanting。
Fromoneandthesamedomethereissueseveralinhabitants，brothersandsisters，ruddymalesandblackfemales，alltheoffspringofthesameBee。Themalesleadacarelessexistence，knownothingofworkanddonotreturntotheclayhousesexceptforabriefmomenttowootheladies；nordotheyreckofthedesertedcabin。Whattheywantisthenectarintheflower-cups，notmortartomixbetweentheirmandibles。Thereremaintheyoungmothers，whoalonearechargedwiththefutureofthefamily。Towhichofthemwilltheinheritanceoftheoldnestrevert？Assisters，theyhaveequalrightstoit：soourcodewoulddecide，sincethedaywhenitshookitselffreeoftheoldsavagerightofprimogeniture。ButtheMason-beeshavenotyetgotbeyondtheprimitivebasisofproperty，therightofthefirstoccupant。
When，therefore，thelaying-timeisathand，theBeetakespossessionofthefirstvacantnestthatsuitsherandsettlesthere；andwoetoanysisterorneighbourwhoshallhenceforthdaretocontestherownership。Hotpursuitsandfierceblowswillsoonputthenewcomertoflight。Ofthevariouscellsthatyawnlikesomanywellsaroundthedome，onlyoneisneededatthemoment；buttheBeerightlycalculatesthattheotherswillbeusefulpresentlyfortheothereggs；andshewatchesthemallwithjealousvigilancetodriveawaypossiblevisitors。IndeedIdonotremembereverseeingtwoMasonsworkingonthesamepebble。
Thetaskisnowverysimple。TheBeeexaminestheoldcelltoseewhatpartsrequirerepairing。Shetearsoffthestripsofcocoonhangingfromthewalls，removesthefragmentsofclaythatfellfromtheceilingwhenpiercedbythelastinhabitanttomakeherexit，givesacoatofmortartothedilapidatedparts，mendstheopeningalittle；
andthatisall。Nextcomethestoring，thelayingoftheeggsandtheclosingofthechamber。Whenallthecells，oneaftertheother，arethusfurnished，theoutercover，themortardome，receivesafewrepairsifitneedsthem；andthethingisdone。
TheSicilianMason-beepreferscompanytoasolitarylifeandestablishesherselfinherhundreds，veryofteninmanythousands，underthetilesofashedortheedgeofaroof。Thesedonotconstituteatruesociety，withcommonintereststowhichallattend，butameregathering，whereeachworksforherselfandisnotconcernedwiththerest，inshort，athrongofworkersrecallingtheswarmofahiveonlybytheirnumbersandtheireagerness。ThemortaremployedisthesameasthatoftheMason-beeoftheWalls，equallyunyieldingandwaterproof，butthinnerandwithoutpebbles。Theoldnestsareusedfirst。Everyfreechamberisrepaired，stockedandsealedup。Buttheoldcellsarefarfromsufficientforthepopulation，whichincreasesrapidlyfromyeartoyear。Then，onthesurfaceofthenest，whosechambersarehiddenundertheoldgeneralmortarcovering，newcellsarebuilt，astheneedsofthelaying-timecallforthem。Theyareplacedhorizontally，ornearlyso，sidebyside，withnoattemptatorderlyarrangement。Eacharchitecthasplentyofelbow-roomandbuildsasandwhereshepleases，ontheoneconditionthatshedoesnothamperherneighbours’work；otherwiseshecanlookoutforroughhandlingfromthepartiesinterested。Thecells，therefore，accumulateatrandominthisworkyardwherethereisnoorganization。Theirshapeisthatofathimbledivideddownthemiddle；andtheirwallsarecompletedeitherbytheadjoiningcellsorbythesurfaceoftheoldnest。Outside，theyareroughanddisplaysuccessivelayersofknottedcordscorrespondingwiththedifferentcoursesofmortar。Inside，thewallsareflatwithoutbeingsmooth；
lateron，thegrub’scocoonwillmakeupforanylackofpolish。
Eachcell，asbuilt，isstockedandwalledupimmediately，aswehaveseenwiththeMason-beeoftheWalls。ThisworkgoesonthroughoutthebestpartofMay。Alltheeggsarelaidatlast；andthentheBees，withoutdrawingdistinctionsbetweenwhatdoesandwhatdoesnotbelongtothem，settoworkincommononageneralprotectionforthecolony。Thisisathickcoatofmortar，whichfillsupthegapsandcoversallthecells。Intheend，thecommonnestpresentstheappearanceofawideexpanseofdrymud，withveryirregularprotuberances，thickerinthemiddle，theoriginalnucleusoftheestablishment，thinnerattheedges，whereasyetthereareonlynewlybuiltcells，andvaryinggreatlyindimensionsaccordingtothenumberofworkersandthereforetotheageofthenestfirstfounded。Someofthesenestsarehardlylargerthanone’shand，whileothersoccupythegreaterpartoftheprojectingedgeofaroofandaremeasuredbysquareyards。
Whenworkingalone，whichisnotunusual，ontheshutterofadisusedwindow，onastone，oronatwiginsomehedge，theSicilianChalicodomabehavesinjustthesameway。Forinstance，shouldshesettleonatwig，theBeebeginsbysolidlycementingthebaseofhercelltotheslightfoundation。Next，thebuildingrises，takingtheformofalittleuprightturret。Thisfirstcell，whenvictualledandsealed，isfollowedbyanother，havingasitssupport，inadditiontothetwig，thecellsalreadybuilt。Fromsixtotenchambersarethusgroupedsidebyside。Lastly，onecoatofmortarcoverseverything，includingthetwigitself，whichprovidesafirmmainstayforthewhole。
CHAPTER2。EXPERIMENTS。
AsthenestsoftheMason-beeoftheWallsareerectedonsmall-sizedpebbles，whichcanbeeasilycarriedwhereveryoulikeandmovedaboutfromoneplacetoanother，withoutdisturbingeithertheworkofthebuilderorthereposeoftheoccupantsofthecells，theylendthemselvesreadilytopracticalexperiment，theonlymethodthatcanthrowalittlelightonthenatureofinstinct。Tostudytheinsect’smentalfacultiestoanypurpose，itisnotenoughfortheobservertobeabletoprofitbysomehappycombinationofcircumstances：hemustknowhowtoproduceothercombinations，varythemasmuchaspossibleandtestthembysubstitutionandinterchange。Lastly，toprovidesciencewithasolidbasisoffacts，hemustexperiment。Inthisway，theevidenceofformalrecordswillonedaydispelthefantasticlegendswithwhichourbooksarecrowded：theSacredBeetle（ADung-
beetlewhorollsthemanureofcattleintoballsforhisownconsumptionandthatofhisyoung。Cf。"InsectLife"，byJ。H。Fabre，translatedbytheauthorof"MademoiselleMori"：chapters1and2；and"TheLifeandLoveoftheInsect"，byJ。HenriFabre，translatedbyAlexanderTeixeiradeMattos：chapters1to4。——Translator’sNote。）
callingonhiscomradestolendahelpinghandindragginghispelletoutofarut；theSphex（AspeciesofHuntingWasp。Cf。"InsectLife"：
chapters6to12。——Translator’sNote。）cuttingupherFlysoastobeabletocarryhimdespitetheobstacleofthewind；andalltheotherfallacieswhicharethestock-in-tradeofthosewhowishtoseeintheanimalworldwhatisnotreallythere。Inthisway，again，materialswillbepreparedwhichwillonedaybeworkedupbythehandofamasterandconsignhastyandunfoundedtheoriestooblivion。
Reaumur，asarule，confineshimselftostatingfactsasheseestheminthenormalcourseofeventsanddoesnottrytoprobedeeperintotheinsect’singenuitybymeansofartificiallyproducedconditions。
Inhistime，everythinghadyettobedone；andtheharvestwassogreatthattheillustriousharvesterwentstraighttowhatwasmosturgent，thegatheringofthecrop，andlefthissuccessorstoexaminethegrainandtheearindetail。Nevertheless，inconnectionwiththeChalicodomaoftheWalls，hementionsanexperimentmadebyhisfriend，Duhamel。（HenriLouisDuhamelduMonceau（1700-1781），adistinguishedwriteronbotanyandagriculture。——Translator’sNote。）
HetellsushowaMason-bee’snestwasenclosedinaglassfunnel，themouthofwhichwascoveredmerelywithabitofgauze。Fromitthereissuedthreemales，who，aftervanquishingmortarashardasstone，eitherneverthoughtofpiercingtheflimsygauzeorelsedeemedtheworkbeyondtheirstrength。ThethreeBeesdiedunderthefunnel。
Reaumuraddsthatinsectsgenerallyknowonlyhowtodowhattheyhavetodointheordinarycourseofnature。
Theexperimentdoesnotsatisfyme，fortworeasons：first，toaskworkersequippedwithtoolsforcuttingclayashardasgranitetocutapieceofgauzedoesnotstrikemeasahappyinspiration；youcannotexpectanavvy’spick-axetodothesameworkasadressmaker’sscissors。Secondly，thetransparentglassprisonseemstomeill-
chosen。Assoonastheinsecthasmadeapassagethroughthethicknessofitsearthendome，itfindsitselfinbroaddaylight；andtoitdaylightmeansthefinaldeliverance，meansliberty。Itstrikesagainstaninvisibleobstacle，theglass；andtoitglassisnothingatallandyetanobstruction。Onthefarside，itseesfreespace，bathedinsunshine。Itwearsitselfoutineffortstoflythere，unabletounderstandthefutilenatureofitsattemptsagainstthatstrangebarrierwhichitcannotsee。Itperishes，atlast，ofexhaustion，without，initsobstinacy，givingaglanceatthegauzeclosingtheconicalchimney。Theexperimentmustberenewedunderbetterconditions。
TheobstaclewhichIselectisordinarybrownpaper，stoutenoughtokeeptheinsectinthedarkandthinenoughnottoofferseriousresistancetotheprisoner’sefforts。Asthereisagreatdifference，insofarastheactualnatureofthebarrierisconcerned，betweenapaperpartitionandaclayceiling，letusbeginbyenquiringiftheMason-beeoftheWallsknowshoworratherisabletomakeherwaythroughoneofthesepartitions。Themandiblesarepickaxessuitableforbreakingthroughhardmortar：aretheyalsoscissorscapableofcuttingathinmembrane？Thisisthepointtolookintofirstofall。
InFebruary，bywhichtimetheinsectisinitsperfectstate，Itakeacertainnumberofcocoons，withoutdamagingthem，fromtheircellsandinsertthemeachinaseparatestumpofreed，closedatoneendbythenaturalwallofthenodeandopenattheother。Thesepiecesofreedrepresentthecellsofthenest。Thecocoonsareintroducedwiththeinsect’sheadturnedtowardstheopening。Lastly，myartificialcellsareclosedindifferentways。Somereceiveastopperofkneadedclay，which，whendry，willcorrespondinthicknessandconsistencywiththemortarceilingofthenaturalnest。Othersarepluggedwithacylinderofsorghum，atleastacentimetre（。39inch——Translator’sNote。）thick；andtheremainderwithadiskofbrownpapersolidlyfastenedbytheedge。Allthesebitsofreedareplacedsidebysideinabox，standingupright，withtheroofofmymakingatthetop。Theinsects，therefore，areintheexactpositionwhichtheyoccupiedinthenest。Toopenapassage，theymustdowhattheywouldhavedonewithoutmyinterference，theymustbreakthroughthewallsituatedabovetheirheads。Ishelterthewholeunderawidebell-glassandwaitforthemonthofMay，theperiodofthedeliverance。
Theresultsfarexceedmyanticipations。Theclaystopper，theworkofmyfingers，isperforatedwitharoundhole，differinginnowisefromthatwhichtheMason-beecontrivesthroughhernativemortardome。Thevegetablebarrier，newtomyprisoners，namely，thesorghumcylinder，alsoopenswithaneatorifice，whichmighthavebeentheworkofapunch。Lastly，thebrown-papercoverallowstheBeetomakeherexitnotbyburstingthrough，bymakingaviolentrent，butoncemorebyaclearlydefinedroundhole。MyBeesthereforearecapableofataskforwhichtheywerenotborn；tocomeoutoftheirreedcellstheydowhatprobablynoneoftheirracedidbeforethem；theyperforatethewallofsorghum-pith，theymakeaholeinthepaperbarrier，justastheywouldhavepiercedtheirnaturalclayceiling。Whenthemomentcomestofreethemselves，thenatureoftheimpedimentdoesnotstopthem，providedthatitbenotbeyondtheirstrength；andhenceforththeargumentofincapacitycannotberaisedwhenamerepaperbarrierisinquestion。
Inadditiontothecellsmadeoutofbitsofreed，Iputunderthebell-glass，atthesametime，twonestswhichareintactandstillrestingontheirpebbles。TooneofthemIhaveattachedasheetofbrownpaperpressedcloseagainstthemortardome。Inordertocomeout，theinsectwillhavetopiercefirstthedomeandthenthepaper，whichfollowswithoutanyinterveningspace。Overtheother，Ihaveplacedalittlebrownpapercone，gummedtothepebble。Thereishere，therefore，asinthefirstcase，adoublewall——aclaypartitionandapaperpartition——withthisdifference，thatthetwowallsdonotcomeimmediatelyaftereachother，butareseparatedbyanemptyspaceofaboutacentimetreatthebottom，increasingastheconerises。
Theresultsofthesetwoexperimentsarequitedifferent。TheBeesinthenesttowhichasheetofpaperwastightlystuckcomeoutbypiercingthetwoenclosures，ofwhichtheouterwall，thepaperwrapper，isperforatedwithaverycleanroundhole，aswehavealreadyseeninthereedcellsclosedwithalidofthesamematerial。
Wethusbecomeaware，forthesecondtime，that，whentheMason-beeisstoppedbyapaperbarrier，thereasonisnotherincapacitytoovercometheobstacle。Ontheotherhand，theoccupantsofthenestcoveredwiththecone，aftermakingtheirwaythroughtheearthendome，findingthesheetofpaperatsomedistance，donoteventrytoperforatethisobstacle，whichtheywouldhaveconqueredsoeasilyhaditbeenfastenedtothenest。Theydieunderthecoverwithoutmakinganyattempttoescape。EvensodidReaumur’sBeesperishintheglassfunnel，wheretheirlibertydependedonlyupontheircuttingthroughabitofgauze。
Thisfactstrikesmeasrichininferences。What！Herearesturdyinsects，towhomboringthroughgraniteismereplay，towhomastopperofsoftwoodandapaperpartitionarewallsquiteeasytoperforatedespitethenoveltyofthematerial；andyetthesevigoroushousebreakersallowthemselvestoperishstupidlyintheprisonofapaperbag，whichtheycouldhavetornopenwithonestrokeoftheirmandibles！Theyarecapableoftearingit，buttheydonotdreamofdoingso！Therecanbeonlyoneexplanationofthissuicidalinaction。
Theinsectiswell-endowedwithtoolsandinstinctivefacultiesforaccomplishingthefinalactofitsmetamorphosis，namely，theactofemergingfromthecocoonandfromthecell。Itsmandiblesprovideitwithscissors，file，pick-axeandleverwherewithtocut，gnawthroughanddemolisheitheritscocoonanditsmortarenclosureoranyothernottooobstinatebarriersubstitutedforthenaturalcoveringofthenest。Moreover——andthisisanimportantproviso，exceptforwhichtheoutfitwouldbeuseless——ithas，Iwillnotsaythewilltousethosetools，butasecretstimulusinvitingittoemploythem。Whenthehourfortheemergencearrives，thisstimulusisarousedandtheinsectsetstoworktoboreapassage。Itlittlecaresinthiscasewhetherthematerialtobepiercedbethenaturalmortar，sorghum-pith，orpaper：thelidthatholdsitimprisoneddoesnotresistforlong。Norevendoesitcareiftheobstaclebeincreasedinthicknessandapaperwallbeaddedoutsidethewallofclay：thetwobarriers，withnointervalbetweenthem，formbutonetotheBee，whopassesthroughthembecausetheactofgettingoutisstilloneactandoneonly。
Withthepapercone，whosewallisalittlewayoff，theconditionsarechanged，thoughthetotalthicknessofwallisreallythesame。
Onceoutsideitsearthenabode，theinsecthasdoneallthatitwasdestinedtodoinordertoreleaseitself；tomovefreelyonthemortardomerepresentstoittheendoftherelease，theendoftheactofboring。Aroundthenestanewbarrierappears，thewallmadebythepaperbag；but，inordertopiercethis，theinsectwouldhavetorepeattheactwhichithasjustaccomplished，theactwhichitisnotintendedtoperformmorethanonceinitslife；itwould，inshort，havetomakeintoadoubleactthatwhichbynatureisasingleone；
andtheinsectcannotdothis，forthesolereasonthatithasnotthewishto。TheMason-beeperishesforlackofthesmallestgleamofintelligence。Andthisisthesingularintellectinwhichitisthefashionnowadaystoseeagermofhumanreason！Thefashionwillpassandthefactsremain，bringingusbacktothegoodoldnotionsofthesoulanditsimmortaldestinies。
ReaumurtellsushowhisfriendDuhamel，havingseizedaMason-beewithaforcepswhenshehadhalfenteredthecell，headforemost，tofillitwithpollen-paste，carriedhertoaclosetatsomedistancefromthespotwherehecapturedher。TheBeegotawayfromhiminthisclosetandflewoutthroughthewindow。Duhamelmadestraightforthenest。TheMasonarrivedalmostassoonashedidandrenewedherwork。
Sheonlyseemedalittlewilder，saysthenarrator，inconclusion。