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。