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136
My Studio Neighbors
·
W. Hamilton Gibson
52
Here
I
discovered
one
of
the
midgets
in
a
new
position,
its
pointed
helmet
inclined
farther
downward,
and
its
other
extremity
correspondingly
raised,
so
that
I
could
see
beneath
its
body.
I
now
observed
what
at
first
appeared
to
be
the
hind
leg
of
the
farther
side
of
the
body
protruding
beneath,
but
in
another
moment
noted
my
error,
and
saw
that
its
sharp
point
had
penetrated
the
bark,
into
which
it
soon
sank
quite
deeply,
and
I
realized
that
the
ovipositor
was
now
conducting
its
tiny
eggs
into
the
cambium
layer
of
the
bark.
Without
waiting
for
this
particular
individual
to
finish
her
labors,
which
might
be
extended
for
hours
for
aught
I
knew,
I
turned
my
glass
upon
its
nearest
neighbor,
and
a
most
accommodating
specimen
she
proved,
disclosing
all
the
mysteries
of
the
little
froth
house,
its
strange
material,
and
unique
method
of
construction.
What
I
saw
reminded
me
irresistibly
of
the
technique
of
the
cake-frosting
art
of
the
fancy
baker,
with
its
flowing
tube
of
white
condiment,
and
its
following
tracery
of
questionable
design
in
high
relief.
This
accommodating
specimen
had
apparently
just
completed
her
egg-laying,
or
had
perhaps
just
filled
one
nest;
and
while
her
attitude
was
precisely
similar
to
that
of
her
neighbor,
I
noticed
a
tiny
ball
of
glistening
froth
at
the
tip
of
the
ovipositor.
This
was
attached
to
the
bark
by
a
touch,
and
from
this
starting-point
the
construction
of
the
glistening
house
was
continued,
the
apex
of
the
ovipositor
pouring
out
its
endless
puffy
roll
of
aerated
cement,
which
seemed
to
set
as
soon
as
laid.
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